Fathering,Faith, and Family Therapy

Summary

This article presents the major conceptual and clinical ideas on fathering, religion, and counseling developed by David C. Dollahite and his colleagues. The concepts of generative fathering and generative narrative therapy are presented and illustrated with narratives of religious fathers. These ideas address a number of issues believed important to consider in family therapy with fathers-particularly religious fathers. Concepts are illustrated with personal narratives from two samples of Latter-day Saint (Mormon) fathers of children with special needs. Although the narratives are non-clinical, implications for family therapy from these and related theories and stories are suggested. The article emphasizes father strengths, the power of religion to assist fathers in challenging circumstances, and the importance of therapists' sensitivity to spiritual and religious matters.