Couples' dilemmas revolve around vantage points in their relationships. The purposes of this article are to discuss direct ways of assisting students to integrate theory into practice, to provide an integrated picture of how varying empirical findings dealing with couples could be pieced together to train beginning therapists, and to better assess…

Describes how a family therapy perspective can be integrated into group as a treatment modality. Concepts from family therapy are illustrated through a description of a specific women's group and case study. Techniques from family therapy applied in group are derived from multigenerational, experiential/humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral…

The authors have created the Illness Relationship Impact Inventory as one concrete way of examining each person's personal relationship with illness during their formative years. These early experiences texture the impact on one's experience of illness as an adult. Discussion questions and "next steps" commitment for positive improvement in that…

This case presentation describes a Narrative- Constructivist Therapy approach for working with couples. The figure-ground metaphor is introduced as a way to understand how certain negative experiences and interpretations can become the predominant focus for couples. When couples become trapped in the troublesome same-old story of their…

Investigated Caring Days procedure for marital therapy to determine its potential for positive change with nondistressed married couples. Randomly assigned 32 married couples to either experimental group employing Caring Days technique or to attention control group. Experimental group showed significant positive changes compared to control group…

Questions adequacy with which insight-oriented marital therapy (IOMT) and behavioral marital therapy (BMT) were represented in Snyder, Wills, and Grady-Fletcher's (1991) comparative treatment study. Contends that BMT treatment manual fails to include recent innovations in behavioral technology and IOMT manual includes many skills integral to BMT.…

Presents basic information concerning normal aging that therapists need to understand sources of conflict and distress in older or caregiving couples. Describes unique aspects of assessment and intervention with older couples. Examines marital satisfaction across life span, including factors that alter marital functioning, developmental tasks and…

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…

Investigates the use of intervention rationales that matched the participants' positions of beliefs in marriage therapy. Participants rated each treatment recommendation for acceptability. A variety of interventions were utilized. The interventions paired with rationales. Participant positions were rated significantly more acceptable than…

Explores recent use of qualitative methodology in research relating to marriage and family counseling. The seven research articles described highlight the potential benefits and challenges qualitative methodology can have for the field of marriage and family counseling. (Author/MKA)

Behavioral couples' therapy has a long history of success with couples and is an empirically validated treatment for marital discord (Task Force on Promotion and Dissemination of Psychological Procedures, 1995). However, only about 50% of all couples in treatment experience long-term change (2 years). One of the founders of behavioral couples'…

Sixteen married couples volunteered to participate in a 6-week empathy training program. Ten of the 16 couples observed and made comments about their taped interaction at the end of the program. Individuals watched the tape of their own interaction at the follow-up and were asked several qualitative questions, including what they noticed about…

This book provides therapists with a theoretical base from which to view the dynamics of couples' relationships and the therapeutic process. The book's eight chapters are organized into three parts: "Adlerian Theory and Process"; "Therapeutic Interventions"; and "Special Issues in Marital Therapy." Chapter 1, Adlerian…

Couples therapy interventions can be used with alcohol abusers and alcoholics during three broadly defined states of recovery: (1) initial commitment to change; (2) change itself; and (3) long-term maintenance of change. Intervening with the alcoholic's spouse (and/or other nonalcoholic family members) can motivate and reinforce commitment to…