This study aimed to advance understanding of how doctoral students perceive postmodernism's influence in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT). Focus group interviews were utilized to investigate perceptions of MFT doctoral students. Findings suggest participants are attracted to postmodern tenets but also feel liberation and confusion…

This article illustrates a teaching case in which a marriage and family therapy (MFT) trainee learned to develop cultural sensitivity toward same-sex couples despite religious beliefs that put her at risk of discriminating against that population. The case took place during a marriage and family therapy ethics course in the spring of 2003. From…

The future of the profession and practice of marriage and family therapy (MFT) rests with those who promote the integration of research and clinical practice. The Boulder scientist-practitioner model is useful in conceptualizing MFT training, but it is not the perfect solution. Four MFT programs (two master's and two doctoral) are featured in this…

This paper describes a psychoeducational procedure known as Covenant Contracting, which is used in the training of family psychologists at Georgia State University. The training framework for clinical experience is described, and the philosophical underpinning for this particular clinical sequence is summarized. The rationale for Covenant…

This paper provides a review of the articles and documents on the topic of marriage counseling, as identified by a computer search of the ERIC data base from November 1966 through December 1979. The materials address the following topics: (1) the history of marriage counseling; (2) counseling techniques including conjoint family therapy, cotherapy…

Offers a conceptual approach to resistance in marital therapy. Aimed at beginning marital clinicians, provides an understanding of the natural existence of resistance to therapeutic change. Presents a model which can aid the clinician in assessing each individual's willingness to improve throughout therapy. (Author)

Presents techniques for concealing ignorance from clients and colleagues and making correct excuses for failure to them. Provides information for the therapist who is ignorant about how to change a marriage relationship and wishes to sound knowledgeable and appear to know what s/he is doing. (Author/BEF)

Describes a comprehensive doctoral training program in marriage and family therapy (MFT) at East Texas State University. Students and faculty realize the dynamic breadth and depth that MFT training gives counselor education. The need is there and marriage and family therapy education should not be ignored. (Author)

Research was conducted to identify the events and experiences influencing the development of clinical self-confidence during the first year of client contact for beginning marriage and family therapists. Thirty-nine recent graduates of a master's degree training program participated in a semistructured interview in which they were asked to…

In Australia, the institutions of marriage and family are changing as reflected by the statistics on separation, divorce, and remarriage. Recent figures reveal an increase in divorce in the earlier years of marriage as well as a dramatic increase in the number of remarriages occuring across all age groups. Under the Family Law Act the government…

This article describes a sequence of marriage and family counseling courses offered within the context of a Masters program in counselor education. Following the rationale for the courses and a general program discussion, the seven courses in the family counseling sequence are enumerated and explained, including: (1) theories of family counseling;…

Examines the view that individual pathologies and problems are manifestations of family dysfunctions. The interdependence of family members is the critical element in the family group therapy process. Intervention involves the disruption of the dynamic balance maintained by the family system. (RC)

This report presents data from a telephone survey of a randomly selected sample of 292 marriage and family therapists (MFTs) who were Clinical Members of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. The study, designed to better understand the current state of the field of MFT, provides descriptive data on the demographic…

Although the marriage and family therapy field's recent attention to multicultural issues is laudable, there appears to be little clarity on what constitutes an effective multicultural competence. The field continues to be challenged at different levels-training, practice, research, the setting of the standards and the work of the commission on…

Offers an integrative model of supervision--the Intersystem Model of couple therapy of the Marriage Council of Philadelphia--that consolidates individual, interactional, and intergenerational therapies, providing a base from which the supervisor of couple therapy can be most effective. A detailed case of supervision is utilized to demonstrate the…