The adverse effects of marital dissolution and dissatisfaction point to a need for interventions, such as premarital preparation, to improve marital quality. Although several studies support the potential for premarital preparation to improve couples' marital satisfaction and interpersonal skills, results from other studies are mixed. Moreover,…

An integration of Adlerian and social constructionist ideas, the reflecting "as if" technique asks clients to take a reflective step backward to consider perceptual and behavioral alternatives as a prelude to their acting as if they were the couple they desire to be. This article describes the reflecting as if technique and provides a…

Asserts that marital assessment instruments can be used to enhance effects of marital counseling. Examines some of more popular marital instruments available, including Stuart's Couples Precounseling Inventory, Russell and Madsen's Marriage Counseling Report, Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis, Snyder's Marital Satisfaction Inventory, and…

Identifies nine dimensions of intimacy, each having four interrelated components. Clinical assessments of these dimensions and components can be accomplished by use of the Marital Intimacy Needs Questionnaire. Offers an introduction to the instrument. (Author/MKA)

In response to repeated calls for process research on couple and family therapy, three different process research methodologies, grounded therapy, change events analysis, and experimental manipulation - are presented and evaluated. The strengths and weaknesses of each methodology are discussed, along with their role in generating and testing…

Reviews new books and popular literature on gender issues from theory perspective. Discusses concerns for marriage and family counseling and therapy. Contends that content of several new books on unremitting pressures against female equality is important for family counselors and therapists to consider. (Author/NB)

Argues for the application of Delphi studies in marriage and family therapy (MFT) research. Describes the methodology of the Delphi and discusses Delphi studies that already exist in the MFT literature. Recommendations for the use of Delphi in the MFT field are highlighted. (MKA)

Reviews literature on health and illness in families, addressing ramifications for counselors and therapists. Notes that several recent contributions to family counseling literature highlight family health in effort to begin to balance the scales of literature in this area. (Author/NB)

The couples forgiveness exercise provides a tool for therapists when a breach of trustworthiness has occurred between mates. The procedure is outlined and applied to a case study. (Author)

This synopsis of the outcome literature on marital and family treatment (MFT) drew three conclusions. First, intervening at the marital/family level with nonalcoholic family members can motivate an initial commitment to change in the alcoholic who is unwilling to seek help. Second, MFT alone, or with individual alcoholism treatment, produces…

Briefly reviews the literature on infertility and its emotional, physical, existential, and relational effects on individuals, couples, and families. Life crisis and biopsychosocial theories are discussed as they apply to persons struggling with infertility issues. In addition, stage models derived from a biopsychosocial perspective are presented.…

Marriage and family counselors can play important roles for both the person with schizophrenia and his or her family. This article provides a resource for family counselors that includes a clinically relevant summary of the schizophrenia literature, its associated family burden, and applicable interventions and issues. (Contains 64 references.)…

Twenty years of outcome research conducted on Relationship Enhancement (RE) couples and family therapy are reviewed. Studies testing RE with premarital and marital couples as well as special populations are included. Effect sizes are included to provide further information on the comparison of treatment to control groups. Implications for…

Provides a review of representative literature offering modifications of traditional genogram formats, procedures, and emphases. Topics include counseling techniques and interventions for couples' issues related to sexuality, intimacy, and gender roles. Families and stepfamilies are addressed in areas such as grief and loss, alcoholism, and…

Examines literature on marital therapy and spouse involvement as treatments for major psychopathology, focusing on depression, agoraphobia, and alcoholism. For each disorder, examines relation between marital dynamics and disorder and discusses empirical efforts to evaluate impact of marital therapy or spouse involvement on disorder. Summarizes…