Objective: This article describes the validation of the Religious/Spiritually Integrated Process Assessment Scale (RSIPAS) across five helping professions. The RSIPAS was originally developed to measure clinical social workers' self-efficacy, attitudes, perceived feasibility, behaviors, and overall orientation toward integrating clients' religion…

The efficacy of premarital education programs has been well established; yet few studies have attempted to identify factors that may lead to increased participation. The current study examined questionnaire data from 46 engaged couples to determine whether marital commitment is a unique predictor of both interest in premarital education and intent…

This article explores the relevance and challenge of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) and internationalization to the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program at the University of San Diego. These issues are discussed in the context of a graduate level course on human diversity that culminated in a 1-day cultural immersion and service learning trip…

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…

Discusses some of the specific problems associated with the adoption of the family life-cycles (FLC) theory and paradigm in marriage and family therapy (MFT). Four ideas are offered as ways to "re-vision" the FLC paradigm in MFT in the areas of theory, research, and therapy. (Author/MKA)

Presents model of marital interactions based on nature of fit between each spouse's belief systems, particularly those related to fears inherent in intimacy. Proposes that such interactions can be belief-confirming, lead to alienation, conflict, or unhappiness; or belief-disconfirming, leading to intimacy, successful conflict resolution, and…

The role of cognitions in marital relationships has received increasing attention. Specific beliefs about marital relationships have shown consistent correlations with overall marital satisfaction. As a measure of dysfunctional beliefs about intimate relationships, the Relationship Belief Inventory provides five dysfunctional beliefs scores. This…

Replicates Bergin's (1985) research involving religious values and beliefs and their relationship to counseling. Differences were found in each of 10 belief areas on 10 values areas between the total sample in both studies. Within-group differences revealed greater similarities among professional counselors, social workers, and marriage/family…

To demonstrate the utility of Rational Emotive Therapy in pre-marital counseling, examples of specific irrational beliefs which clinicians can use to help couples are presented. Mental health practitioners are encouraged to apply these principles to other specific irrationalities they may discover in their own work experience. (Author)

Marital therapy couples (N=47) completed inventories measuring unrealistic beliefs about self and unrealistic beliefs about marital relationships. Results indicated unrealistic beliefs were negatively associated with: estimated chance for improvement in therapy, desire to improve the relationship, preference for marital versus individually…

Although increasing attention has been given to spirituality, to date, no published studies in marriage and family therapy journals have explored marriage and family therapists' beliefs about the appropriateness of addressing spirituality in therapy. This study fills this gap by examining the beliefs of a sample of clinical members of AAMFT about…

Examined the extent and dimensions of the process of segmentation within the family therapy movement by comparing the belief and action systems of 1000 family therapists oriented to one of three major models of family therapy. Findings depicted a unique patterning of similarities and differences among the three models. (Author)

For religious couples, Deity's influence in their marriage is often experienced through prayer, and Deity may more significantly influence religious couples' interaction than anyone else. As a preliminary test of this hypothesis, spouses completed a Likert-scaled questionnaire pertaining to prayer and marital conflict. Issues surrounding clinical…

Although interest has increased in applying cognitive behavior therapies to conjoint treatment of marital problems, the role of cognitive processes in marital maladjustment and in couples' orientations toward marital therapy has not been sufficiently investigated. The association between couples' levels of marital distress and their goals for…

Counseling across cultures can present many problems for the White American counselor. It is important that the counselor understand the subculture in order to meet the needs of minority clients. In dealing with Black Americans, the counselor must consider issues of racism and religion. When working with Mexican-Americans, the counselor must often…