Alcohol abuse imposes financial, social, and emotional burdens on drinkers and their families. Couples suffering from alcohol-related problems who seek therapy often have expectations of retribution, restitution, and refuge. Although thoughts of retribution are difficult to elicit in therapy, non-drinking spouses often expect to inflict pain on…

Examines the use of the small group modality for providing helping services in religious settings and the use of religious-spiritual content in small helping groups. Includes a review and critique of various types of services, including group therapy, marital treatment, marriage enrichment, growth groups, and assertion training. (Author/ABB)

Reviews conceptual and methodological advances in understanding attributional processes in intimate relationships. Studies are organized according to their focus on general versus specific components of attribution making, and their use of distressed versus nondistressed samples. Results offer strong evidence of the importance of attributional…

Addresses ethical issues in the engagement and termination phases of marital and family therapy. Engagement phase must examine commitment to systemic intervention versus serving motivated clients. Termination phase must examine client's and therapist's ways of managing readiness, prematurity, and follow-up. Proposed solutions are suggested. (ABL)

Considers what constitutes a system for design learning (SDL) based on activities of the International Systems Institute and on designing and implementing SDL in a master's program in marriage and family therapy. Establishing a design culture by creating a design community and learning from anxiety are also discussed. (Contains 11 references.)…

Author subjectively compares experiences in medical school, psychiatric residency training, and an American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy accredited doctoral program in marriage and family therapy. Discusses differences and similarities between two programs. Proposes that primary objective of professional training is to learn to…

A counselor describes feelings and attitudes of two young adults who see their marital problems as having begun with the birth of their severely disabled child. Counseling led to improved communication, better coping, and shared planning for the future. (DB)

This review examines the impact of impairment on marital relationships of the elderly and barriers to therapeutic treatment. The training and skills needed to work with the elderly in a therapeutic setting and behavioral therapy approaches are also discussed. (Author/BL)

Presents an interview with Dr. John M. Gottman, one of the most prolific researchers/authors in marriage and family therapy. Specific topics addressed include: Gottman's family of origin and career influences; his research on meta-emotions and marital conflict; psychoeducation versus marital therapy; and future goals. (GCP)

Replies to Taggart's response to Cottone's article on paradigms in marital and family therapy. Claims that ideally this debate will inspire further discussion and a relative consensus on marital and family therapy research. Summarizes seven points of contention and disputes each. Concludes that both authors have high hopes for marital and family…

Disputes Jacobson's characterizations (1991) of behavioral marital therapy (BMT) and insight-oriented marital therapy (IOMT) delivered in Snyder, Wills, and Grady-Fletcher's (1991) comparative treatment study. Presents data showing that treatments were as effective or more so than previously published marital therapy outcome studies. Suggests that…

Describes homosexual male counselor's experiences as marriage, family, and child counselor. Claims, because of counselor's comfort and openness to alternative roles, parenting situations, and identities, client couples are freed to dialogue about making role changes. Concludes homophobia often obscures valuable contributions homosexual men and…

Interviews Berenson on his distinctive approach to therapy with families and couples affected by addiction and provides references. Considers background and theoretical influences, and changes over time. Discusses the use of "phasing," collaboration with Twelve Step programs, and integration of a spiritual perspective into family and…

Explores the applicability of a feminist model for clinical social work with couples and families. Summarizes the feminist critique of traditional family systems theory and explores other areas of concern including family theory and healthy family functioning. (JPS)

Explores developmental and psychological assumptions about women that are fundamental to current marriage and family therapy practice. Ethical guidelines for reducing bias in therapy, especially with couples and families, are offered to counselors and therapists for evaluation and refinement of professional gender role sensitivity. (Author)