The author describes the emergence of a new style of family physician whose education is incorporating more behavioral science and whose practice moves increasingly into the field of marital and sexual problems. Closer cooperation between physicians and clinical psychologists and marriage counselors is advocated. (Editor)

This article is intended to be an illustrative rather than an exhaustive statement of training opportunities in marriage and family counseling in the United States at this time. (Author)

Counselors may expect an increasing number of marriages to include open intimate involvement with others either as an adjunct to the marriage or as an integral part of it. Key problem areas are noted and application to counseling situations is made. (Author)

Questionnaires were sent to a national random sample of the clinical membership of the American Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (N=465) to ascertain their attitudes and practices toward clients involved in sexually open marriage, secret affairs, and recreational swinging. Counselors' biases toward such clients are discussed. (Author)

The purpose of the paper is to: identify the major types of cohabiting relationships; specify the personal characteristics and relationship characteristics of each cohabiting relationship type; and outline potential benefits and costs to the individual in each type of cohabiting relationship. Guidelines for counseling potentially cohabiting…

The values clarification process is a potentially useful means of helping couples improve their relationships and constructively manage their conflicts. In this paper practical values clarification strategies are presented for use within a positively-oriented couples' enrichment program. These approaches may also be incorporated into traditional…

This paper describes the evolution of an approach designed to improve interpersonal interaction between spouses through training in specific communication skills. The approach can be used either in lieu of, or in conjunction with, more traditional marital counseling. Presented at American Personnel and Guidance Association Convention, New Orleans,…

With the increasing divorce rate, new, alternative therapeutic approaches to marital therapy are necessary. Instead of looking at the marital relationship as a closed system, it should be treated from an intergenerational point of view. This involves working on the interlocking between horizontal and linear relationships in the nuclear family.…

This article describes the use of a pre-marriage contract in working with teenage couples and their parents. The contract is an aid in focusing on the practical aspects of marriage preparation, allowing a more direct subsequent focus on the feelings of family members. (Author)

Data are presented concerning the experience of 429 men and women with a court-related marriage and divorce counseling service. Descriptions of how this agency is perceived by the clients as helpful or not helpful are examined as are the sociodemographic characteristics associated with client satisfaction. (Author)

Calls for more attention to marriage in both educational and psychotherapeutic approaches to the family and marriage fields. Object relations theory is seen as having much to offer. Balance among various elements in studying and working with marriage is seen as desirable. (Author)

Experimentation with short contact marriage counseling and some of the results are described. The author is convinced that the new approaches are more effective than those they replaced. (Editor)

Presented as the Presidential Address for the National Council on Family Relations, St. Louis, October 1974. Discusses the profession of family study regarding future trends and needs. (HMV)

Where one of the parties is under 18, California law since November, 1970 has required premarital counseling before receipt of a marriage license. This article describes the program, established to meet this need based on a model of education about problems of everyday living. (Author)

This article contains recommendations for the integration of knowledge and competence from the fields of family law, marriage counseling, judicial administration, and eugenics. The goal is to find ways to minimize marital trauma and thereby improve the quality of family life. (Author)