Describes and evaluates five comprehensive premarital assessment questionnaires that can be used in high school, university, and church settings by family life educators and premarital counselors. Major premarital assessments reviewed vary in coverage of premarital factors, number of items, and cost. These factors must be considered by counselors…

Describes the impact of economic stressors on marriage. Discusses how Adlerian marital therapy strategies can be tailored to help middle-income couples deal with such stressors. Identifies problems facing middle income families experiencing financial hardship, describes Adlerian counseling for financial conflict in marriage, and delineates…

Examines whether a new instrument for measuring couple functioning would differentiate couples in therapy for sexual dysfunction from couples in therapy for other problems. While the other-problems group had greater sexual satisfaction than the sex dysfunction group, the groups were similar in experiencing moderate marital distress. (JPS)

Responds to previous articles by Avis, Kaufman, and Bograd on role of marital and family therapists in dealing with family violence among clients. Considers articles' emphasis on neutrality, asserting that abusers must both be understood and held accountable. Discusses shortcomings of previous articles and concludes that multiple approaches are…

Clarifies concepts of linearity and circularity as applied to marital and family therapy. Defines distinct and theoretically legitimate meanings of linearity (proportionality, unilaterality, temporality). Redefines circularity into two distinct meanings (recursivity and holicity). Concludes with call for continued deconstruction of social systems…

Describes current trends in training marriage and family counselors. Raises training issues related to individual counseling, working with systems beyond families, focusing on concrete outcomes, and programs giving adequate attention to the therapist as an individual. Discusses COAMFTE and CACREP accreditation standards. (CRR)

Describes marriage and family counselor training model utilizing family-of-origin work for personal growth. Reviews theoretical base, application to training, parallel process, and isomorphic process. Suggests that counseling and supervision are intense interpersonal experiences which are likely to reactivate learned patterns of behavior and…

Uses six types of family-of-origin frames (coping, modeling, role, definition, reversal, and loyalty frames) in understanding three common couple interactional situations: pursuing/distancing, overfunctioning/underfunctioning, and blaming/placating. Uses clinical examples to illustrate process of constructing family-of-origin frames in couples…

Presents overview of select components most often found within family training programs: the study of systems theory, examination of family of origin, use of live supervision, and emphasis on ethical issues specific to working with couples and families. Discusses variety of challenges facing training programs, including constructivism, feminist…

Interview with Michael F. Hoyt, a noted figure in the worlds of brief therapy and managed care. He discusses issues regarding brief therapy, some of the promises and problems of managed care, and several likely future trends and their implications for marital and family therapists. (MKA)

Addresses issues of supervision for counselors in training who are moving from individual practice to systemic family sessions. Transition issues are identified and addressed. Recommendations for training in such areas as cotherapy, team approach, and basic skills applications in systemic models are offered. (Author/MKA)

Describes the process of how counseling theory is constructed in the classroom, deconstructed in the workplace, and then reconstructed to meet the unique needs of individual counselors. Marital and family counselor educators and students can both benefit from knowledge about this process. (Author/MKA)

Replicating a study done 15 years ago, a survey was mailed to psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, and marriage and family counselors who were listed in the San Antonio Yellow Pages to get information about their perceptions of unethical practice. Results show a shift in perceived unethical practice over the 15-year time frame. (Author)

Investigates client perceptions of helpful and unhelpful aspects of couples therapy. Results show that couple participants associated helpful therapy experiences with being given choices regarding ideas and ways of working that fit for them; working with a therapist they trusted; and developing new ideas about the couple relationship. (Author/MKA)

Research in the field of marriage and family therapy requires many ethical considerations due to the complexity of relationships among family members and the sensitive information involved. The AAMFT Code of Ethics and ethical standards for research attempt to address these concerns. The guidelines cover issues such as risk management, informed…