Book Review: Family Therapy for Treating Trauma: An Integrative Family and Systems Treatment (I-FAST) Approach

Family Therapy for Treating Trauma: An Integrative Family and Systems Treatment (I-FAST) Approach, by David R. Grove, Gilbert J. Greene, and Mo Yee Lee, Oxford University Press, ISBN: 9780190059408, 2020, 288 pages, $45.00.

    Family Therapy for Treating Trauma: An Integrative Family and Systems Treatment (I-FAST) Approach by Grove, Greene, and Lee demonstrates the true power of family relationships in the healing process from trauma. Using an integrative approach, the concepts of resolving trauma symptoms and giving clients choices and flexibility have been shown to be beneficial in the process of healing of trauma, while family support, secure attachments, and harmonious environments are fundamentally important in minimizing and healing PTSD symptoms.

    In Part 1 of this book, an overview of trauma, evidence-based treatments, and the benefits and detriments of family approaches to trauma are explored. It comprehensively reviews trauma associated with the effects it has on the brain, as well as the intergenerational effects of ACEs for parents who endured trauma as children. Part 2 provides an overview of the I-FAST system, while providing case studies and scenarios to assess who to include in treatment, trauma and frames, the interactional patterns present, and interventions using the I-FAST approach. The book ends with Parts 3 and 4 exploring the various types of trauma in special populations and the research and supporting evidence for I-FAST.

    In my opinion, as I have been working with survivors and families of trauma as a social worker for many years, this book serves as a resource for professionals to engage families in the healing process for trauma survivors together, collectively, empowering family members to take the lead in helping their children overcome the problems associated with a traumatic experience, all while changing family patterns. This cross culture, family integrative approach with a strengths-based philosophy offers an opportunity for families to partner with the trauma-affected family member and provide support, facilitate healing, and form alliances with others.

    The usefulness of this book explaining this approach to social work students and educators in trauma and family therapy related courses is that the complexities of trauma are presented more on our caseloads, in our schools, and in our world. This book is a great resource to place in the trauma toolbox of professionals who are looking for additional interventions to use in situations when the “no talk” rule is demonstrated in the family after a traumatic occurrence or in instances when many other interventions would not be a practical resource. Using this as an initial resource for clients may be challenging, as clients are enduring intense suffering and pain and may not be able to conceptualize the information in the book while processing the events of impairment, loss, and grief in their families. This book is also not appropriate for young survivors of trauma or those without the educational prowess to understand the issues associated with trauma.

Reviewed by Michelle Ratcliff, MSS, DMFT, LSW, Associate Professor, Delaware State University.