Semantic Polarities and Psychopathologies in the Family

The gap between psychotherapeutic practice and clinical theory is ever widening. Therapists still don’t know what role interpersonal relations play in the development of the most common psychopathologies. Valeria Ugazio bridges this gap by examining phobias, obsessive-compulsions, eating disorders, and depression in the context of the family, using an intersubjective approach to personality. Her concept of “semantic polarities” gives a groundbreaking perspective to the construction of meaning in the family and other interpersonal contexts. At no point is theory left in the wasteland of abstraction. The concreteness of the many case studies recounted, and examples taken from well-known novels, will allow readers to immediately connect the topics discussed with their own experience.

"When it comes to remembering this important truth, I can hardly think of a more exciting and enjoyable mnemonic device than On Semantic Polarities and Psychopathologies in the Family: Permitted and Forbidden Stories by Valeria Ugazio, first published in Italy in 1998 and translated into English in 2013. The book is extremely rich with insight and shares the following quality with other great books: nearly every page contains a thought that could sustain an entire, lesser book" -Bookslut "This rigorous book will offer you a liberating way of thinking about every family, including your own... Forget the latest novel, the summer travel book, and just concentrate all your reading energies on this." - Tim Parks, The Guardian, June 2013“Valeria Ugazio is a therapist and clinician of enormous stature who has deepened and broadened our understanding of the four psychopathologies that she discusses in this book. This publication, in its new and updated English-language edition, is long overdue and will be recognized as one of the most important contributions to appear in many years.” - Harry Procter, PhD, Consultant Clinical Psychologist"Written with warmth and compassion for the relational dilemmas of her clients, Valeria Ugazio's constructionist approach to meaning, the semantic polarities, captures the similarities and differences within families and the ways of organising meaning characterised by specific emotions that moves beyond description into explanation and implications for therapeutic practice." - Arlene Vetere, FBPsS, AcSS, University of Surrey, United Kingdom“This book is a remarkable achievement. Valeria Ugazio puts systemic family therapy back in possession of its earlier achievements. From a constructionist positioning she shows how semantic polarities are fundamental to the conversations by which families define their positions. Clinicians in particular will appreciate how the clear exposition of this strong and original theoretical position is applied to four major psychological difficulties, vividly illustrated by vignettes from her own practice. The results is a practical set of approaches that can be integrated into the practice of every systemic therapist.” - Peter Stratton, PhD, FBPsS, Emeritus Professor of Family Therapy, University of Leeds, UK"Ugazio's breakthrough account of how the personality is structured around the meanings that underlie family conversations is quite simply one of the most important books I have ever read. I have now read this book three times, and I am not finished with it yet." - Tim Parks, novelist and essayist

Valeria Ugazio, PhD, is Professor of Clinical Psychology and Coordinator of the Clinical Psychology Doctorate program at the University of Bergamo, Italy, and the Scientific Director of the European Institute of Systemic-relational Therapies.