We Have a Problem: A Parent's Sourcebook

Collected from Marks's column in Parents magazine, the entries here examine many kinds of family problems, ranging from concerns about a disturbed adopted child to a young girl's response to being raped. In each case an anxious parent describes the crisis; then a professional (most of them are from the New York City and Boston areas) details his or her response, which often calls for a course of sessions with the family. These compressed case histories deal with such issues as eating and sleeping difficulties, substance abuse, sibling rivalry, school problems, birth defects, divorce and death. Marks's implicit suggestion that people can overcome grave troubles swiftly and smoothly, along with the repetitive nature of her case histories, diminishes the impact of the generally sound advice she offers. (Oct.)