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)

The author present a five-stage intervention model to be used in counseling with couples. The model stages include structuring, observation and assessment, interruption of the system, deviation and amplification, and responding to individuation. (Author/HLM)

Presents analyses of data from the National Comorbidity Survey to assess the extent to which problems within marriage spill over to produce work loss. Results indicate that marital distress is positively associated with work loss. Suggests family interventions targeted at prevention of marital problems may result in important psychosocial and…

Couples with chronically ill children are particularly at risk for experiencing marital distress. The study presented here is a 2-year follow-up of a randomized control trial that assessed the efficacy of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) in decreasing marital distress in a sample of couples with a chronically ill child. Thirteen couples with…

While it is commonly assumed that marital therapists define their tasks as preserving marriages, most traditionally trained marriage therapists espouse a more neutral role: that is, facilitating a constructive resolution to the marital problem, whether or not that resolution ends up entailing divorce. Despite this professed ideal of neutrality, it…

In part one of this two-part paper, skills which distress couples need in order to more effectively solve their marital problems were enumerated. In this section, the technology for helping couples to learn to solve problems more effectively is discussed. (Author)

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…

Widely varying reports on the effects of divorce on children have created considerable confusion among therapists. Most traditionally trained secular marriage therapists view their position as that of an impartial mediator with emphasis on the well being of the individual. It has been generally accepted that the religious marital therapists are…

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)

Presents multivaried strategies for intervention which integrate major behavioral and family systems treatment techniques. A discussion of the development of family rules from a behavioral point of view is presented as an example of conceptual integration. (Author)

Prior to dissolution, it is likely that couples that become severely distressed first pass through an at-risk stage in which they experience early symptoms of marital deterioration but have not yet suffered irreversible damage to their marriage. It is during this "at-risk" stage when couples might benefit most from early intervention. In response…

This paper offers an overview of existing services for divorcing individuals and their children, and focuses specifically on one model of divorce counseling. Emerging trends are identified as the monograph addresses the practical, financial, emotional and social services now offered in the U.S. The bulk of the document is devoted to the format,…

Examines the success of (N=13) premarital counseling programs. Reviews programs which outlined standardized intervention procedures and utilized dependent measures to assess the program's effectiveness. Premarital counseling programs were generally found to be atheoretical in their approach to intervention, loosely designed, and nonspecific as to…

This paper reviews data on the incidence of marital violence and recommends methods of intervention on a family and social level. Myths which may block awareness of this widespread problem are briefly described. Particular attention is given to the inadequacy of the catharsis hypothesis in explaining and treating marital violence. (Author)

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…