Presents three supervision modalities applicable to training marital and family counselors: live supervision, delayed review supervision (audiotape and videotape), and supervision through verbal reports. Discusses goals, supervisory considerations, advantages, and disadvantages of each modality. Concludes that key in using modalities is to…

Describes the features which distinguish psychoanalytic marital therapy from other forms of marital therapy, demonstrates how important classical psychoanalytic concepts can be applied to marital therapy, and presents a view of how object-relations theories and, particularly, the work of Fairbairn, Kohut, and Gilligan, can be applied to…

Presents framework for defining paradigms within the field of marital and family therapy. Describes paradigm crisis in marital and family therapy as resulting primarily from practical-theoretical, professional, and political concerns rather than scientific anomaly. Defines the psychomedical and the social systems paradigms according to basic…

Clarifies concepts of linearity and circularity as applied to marital and family therapy. Defines distinct and theoretically legitimate meanings of linearity (proportionality, unilaterality, temporality). Redefines circularity into two distinct meanings (recursivity and holicity). Concludes with call for continued deconstruction of social systems…

Uses six types of family-of-origin frames (coping, modeling, role, definition, reversal, and loyalty frames) in understanding three common couple interactional situations: pursuing/distancing, overfunctioning/underfunctioning, and blaming/placating. Uses clinical examples to illustrate process of constructing family-of-origin frames in couples…

This paper illustrates the construction, delivery, and processing of therapeutic stimulus metaphors in couple or family therapy. An introduction to the therapeutic metaphor discusses the uses of metaphors in therapy to denote a likeness between a client and another object or person, and to avoid client resistance. The usefulness of metaphors in…

Presents a theoretical construct (prostrate-detonate-dominate-ingratiate) to explain the development and maintenance of wife-battering. Ties the construct to research evidence and, along with clinical observations, uses it to develop a rationale for a type of therapy deemed effective with wife-batters: group marital Relationship Enhancement.…

Describes the therapy, assessment, and education principles of Functional Family Therapy and applies them to the treatment of inhibited sexual desire, using a case illustration. Functional Family Therapy works at motivating the couple to want change, rather than providing an understanding of underlying causes of the problem. (JAC)

Presents suggestions for assembling a musical tape made up of 20 popular songs that reflect the characteristics of five potential stages in a marital relationship. Illustrates how therapists use the tape in marital therapy and discusses how educators can instruct students to use the tape in their practice. (LLL)

Addresses issues pertinent to training Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) students to develop the skills needed to become Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) professionals. Describes qualifications for becoming EAP professional. Suggests how skills may be taught within the framework of an academically based MFT training program. (Author/ABL)

Notes that clinicians are increasingly consulted by couples whose conflicts arise from or are exacerbated by dual-career relationship. Sees therapy with these couples as potentially greatly aided when treatment is tailored to unique needs of their relational system. Describes protocol for tailoring treatment based on comprehensive,…

Briefly describes Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and explains Relationship Enhancement (RE) marital and family therapy. Provides rationale for understanding BPD as manifestation of lack of differentiation in intimate relationships, followed by explanation of how RE fosters differentiation between partners. Includes case study. (Author/NB)

Provides practical review of selected methods of counseling from constructivist orientation: use of repertory grid technique, metaphorical constructions, family transaction procedure, system "bow ties," and various enactment procedures. Provides examples of methods in counseling contexts and further references to additional illustrations…

Notes that outdoor adventure experiences, traditionally associated with programs like Outward Bound and Project Adventure, have evolved into specific interventions for number of therapeutic populations. Presents brief history and overview of documented use of adventure experiences in marriage and family therapy and enrichment. Offers illustrations…

Outlines a treatment approach integrating behavioral and marital interventions for working with agoraphobics and their partners. Where interactions arouse anxiety, agoraphobes and significant others become embroiled in a circular transaction which causes mutual resentment and entrenched symptomatology. Suggests a method to help develop a…