1. Earning your doctorate in counseling or psychology / Rhonda Jeter-Twilley -- Consider the end at the beginning -- PH.D., ED.D, & PSY, what's the difference? -- Clinical psychology, counseling psychology, and counselor education: what's the difference? -- Related fields: doctorate in family therapy, doctorate in social work -- Aspects for consideration prior to starting your doctoral program -- Academic issues in selecting a program/questions you should know to ask --

2. The importance of the family therapist / Rosalyn Greene -- Introduction -- Brief history of family counseling/therapy -- Counseling today's changing family -- Family resiliency -- Counseling the single-parent-led family -- Counseling the remarried family -- Counseling cohabitating heterosexual adults -- Counseling gay male and lesbian families -- Counseling the dual-career family -- Counseling ethnically diverse minority families -- Credentials and licensing --

3. How to create a family education center / Cubie Bragg -- Introduction -- Design and establishment of a family education center -- Development of a board of directors -- Officers -- Committees -- Execution of instruments, deposits and funds -- Corporate records, reports and seal -- Inspection rights -- Right to copy and make extracts -- Amendment of bylaws -- Construction and terms --

4. Understanding the impact of cultural differences in your practice / Jake Johnson -- Self-understanding -- Training and education -- Collectivistic versus individualistic -- Assessment of clients across-culture --

5. Ethics and legal issues in therapy / Henry Raymond -- Making ethical decisions -- Briefing guide/informed consent -- Confidentiality, privileged communication and privacy -- Dangerousness and appropriate diagnoses -- Managing clients with HIV/Aids and confidentiality --

About the authors -- Index.