Book Review: Family Based Services: A Solution-Focused Approach

The author recommends building an alcohol and drug program into the brain-injury rehabilitation program. The fifth unit, "The Road Ahead," and the sixth unit, "Broader Implications," explore the "wider role of the psychotherapist in facilitating the brain-injured patient, transition back to the real world, and in finding a comfortable place in it." Miller discusses the numerous losses and struggles with financial uncertainty and a complicated legalsystemthat a brain-injured patient must face. Overall, the content of this volume is excellent and consistent with the values and ethos of the socialwork profession. Three concerns must be identified, however. First,use of language interferes with content. Miller does not use person-first language. Throughout the book, individuals with brain injury are referred to as "brain-injured patients." Practitioners and scholars in the field of disability should be well aware of the disrespect it shows to refer to people by their disability. We fortunately no longer refer to a person as a "wheelchair child" or a "retarded woman." In addition, the volume often uses of masculine pronouns exclusively. Because the book adheres to the American Psychological Association's referencing style, useof nonsexist languageshould be expected. In addition, two important content areas essential to working with people with brain injuries and their families are lacking. One disappointment is the author's inattention to child abusea common cause of brain injury in children-especially because one entire chapter is devoted to the special needs of children. An additional weakness is the lack of attention given to the different needs that men and women with brain injuries may have. For example, although Miller reports that alcohol and drugs are prominently featured in brain injury, it's not clear' whether these data are as equally true for women as for men. Increasing documentation shows the different sequelae of illness and disease for men and women. One must speculate that this may be true for brain injury as well, but Miller provides no insight into this matter. Current literature also reo fleets the different therapeutic needs of men and women. The author, however, provides no insights or information about the wayspsychotherapy or family work might be adapted to meet the needs of patients with brain injury by gender. Miller's failure to address this key aspect of assessment and clinical work leaves the reader with the assumption that the volume primarily addresses the needs of men with brain injury.