Ross Speck

Ross V. Speck, MD (1927-2015), was a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst and family therapist. He had a strong interest in sociology and anthropology and did research in family therapy of schizophrenia, drugs, depression, and adolescents. He was one of the "first generation" of family therapists and a founder of the Family Institute of Philadelphia.[1] In addition, he was the originator of NetWork Therapy.[2]

A native of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, Dr. Speck received his medical degree in 1951 from the University of Toronto. He taught at Thomas Jefferson University and Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia and at The Union Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio. He was on the faculty of the International R.D. Laing Institute [3] in St. Gallen, Switzerland, and was a friend of Laing's. He was a life fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

Among his books are Family Networks (1972; with Carolyn Attneave) and The New Families (1972). He served on the editorial board of the journals Family Process, Journal of Psychotherapy and the Family and Journal of Family Psychotherapy.

Dr. Speck, widower of psychotherapist Joan Lincoln Speck, died at his home in Thorofare, New Jersey on 23 May 2015.