Family Focused Behavioral Pediatrics. First edition. By William Lord Coleman. 322 pp. Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2001. $32.95. ISBN 0-7817-2857-6.

This book is part of The Core Handbook Series in Pediatrics, a series designed to explore common problems of infants, children, and adolescents. It was written by a pediatrician at the Center for Development and Learning in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. This is a comprehensive manual to help clinicians transition from a child-focused to a family-focused model of intervention for pediatric behavioral and interactional problems. It is relevant for family physicians as well as all providers who work with children and adolescents. The text is readable and avoids medical jargon, making it accessible to many disciplines. The organization is logical, with three major sections including “shifting to a family focus,” “interviewing the family: practical strategies,” and “clinical issues and strategies.” Each individual chapter is followed by a list of excellent references for further study.

The author describes the text as a beginner’s step-by-step guide for providers who are just learning to use a family systems approach to behavioral pediatrics. The techniques and interventions taught are illustrated with case examples, which are helpful and “real-life.” Notably, the author does not intend to teach the reader to be a family therapist. Instead, the skills one might obtain from using this book include: “identifying interactional problems”; “making the shift from child-focused to family-focused intervention”; “facilitating family meetings and family communication”; “helping families rediscover love, respect, communication, and fair play”; and “helping families work together, find solutions and become a team.” The clinician could then apply these skills to common pediatric problems such as parent-child conflict, parenting disagreements, tantrums, noncompliance, and learning problems.

In addition to theory, the author addresses the practicalities of incorporating the above-mentioned skills into one’s own practice, including the details of coding and billing. With the help of this book, the reader may not only provide better care to his/her pediatric patients, but also find more job satisfaction in doing so. Although it may be too in-depth for many family practice residents and clinicians, it would be perfect for providers with a strong interest in behavioral pediatrics who want to raise their skills to the next level. It would also be an excellent resource for residents who have an interest in family therapy and counseling.