Professionals generally believe that couples who choose to attend marriage education programs are not as distressed as are clinical couples and that distressed couples are not good candidates for marriage education. We examined these assumptions in 129 married couples who enrolled in a PAIRS, Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills…

Despite the recent emphasis on acceptance in romantic relationships, no validated measure of relationship acceptance presently exists. To fill this gap, the 20-item Frequency and Acceptability of Partner Behavior Inventory (FAPBI; A. Christensen & N. S. Jacobson, 1997) was created to assess separately the acceptability and frequency of both…

Techniques of structured communication training, integrating Guerney's conjugal therapy model and Carkhuff's systematic facilitative training, are described in detail. This method offers a concise and effective technology for enhancing communication skills in couples who are experiencing marital conflicts. (Author)

Demonstrated that behavioral marital therapy (BMT) and insight-oriented marital therapy (IOMT) could be rendered in a distinct and uncontaminated fashion in manual-guided outcome research where therapists were crossed with treatment condition. BMT proved to be highly structured, with 93 percent of therapist interventions reflecting behavioral…

Discusses implications of dramatic increase in number of elderly for the marital and family therapist. Claims therapist will be dealing with the complex problems of a population who traditionally have underutilized services and have been viewed with negative bias. Features method of "exaggerated engagement" and gives brief attention to general…

Describes the assumptions, processes, and techniques used in Alderian marriage therapy. Describes purpose of therapy as assessing current beliefs and behaviors while educating the couple in new procedures that can help the couple establish new goals. (Author/ABL)

Describes a study to determine if the Areas of Change Questionnaire (AC) items represent commonly occurring problems seen by marital therapists and identified by Geiss and O'Leary (1981). Results suggest that AC Questionnaire, containing 13 of Geiss and O'Leary's 29 marital problem categories, is limited in the range of clinical marital problems…

Presents a systematic approach to enriching marital relationships. The history and current status of marital enrichment is reviewed. An Adlerian approach to marital enrichment is described. Applications of the program in enrichment groups, marriage therapy and couple groups are included. (Author)

Two examples of a letter (linear and paradoxical) used to engage nonattending spouses for marital therapy are featured as well as recommendations for research. Engagement rates, using the linear and paradoxical letters are compared. (Author/BL)

Suggests not an exclusive focus on emotion in couples therapy, but rather, the inclusion of emotion into an integrative approach which involves affect, cognition, and behavior in a systemic framework. Affect has too long been neglected both as an agent of therapeutic change and as a direct target of change. (Author/ABL)

Reports an attempt to validate a self-help behavioral marital bibliotherapy program. Evaluated five clinical distressed couples via a multiple baseline analysis. Treatment involved reading and exercises covering communications, problem solving, and sexual dysfunction. Results were highly variable and reflected minimal change. (BH)

The premarital contract is an effective tool in premarital counseling. This contract is a written or verbal agreement that makes more explicit one's attitudes and expectations about aspects that will influence the marital relationship. Topics include division of labor, employment, financial responsibility, and religious beliefs and practices.…

Marriage Encounter is a two-day marriage enrichment session sponsored by several religious organizations. This paper attempts to describe one proceeding of a weekend from a participant-observation perspective, offering objective insight and critical discussion. (Author)

Discusses the complexities of sexual avoidance, or Hypoactive Sexual Desire (HSD), a previously neglected aspect of a couple's relationship. Suggests that learning from a therapist to accept and enjoy other forms of sexual exchange can open up new horizons of physical and emotional intimacy. (Contains 17 references.) (GCP)

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.…