Studies of the impact of short vs. long time delays between initial referral and first appointment for relationship counseling of 60 clients. Results indicate that clients offered appointments within two weeks of referral were significantly more likely to attend for first appointment than were clients whose appointment came between 4 and 12 weeks…

Considering the popularity of marriage enrichment programs, it is important for clinicians and marriage educators to know which programs have received empirical support. Using criteria established for determining empirically supported treatments (ESTs), we provide a comprehensive review of the outcome research on 13 specific marital enrichment…

The aim of this study was to explore the lived experience of women's attachment injuries within heterosexual couple relationships. An interpretative, phenomenological approach (van Manen, 1990) was used in this exploratory study. Four women participated in three separate research interviews in order to illuminate the phenomenon of "attachment…

Graduate programs in marriage and family counseling must adhere to ethical codes and standards for training students. A question arises concerning the amount of specialized training that should be included within the larger counselor education discipline. This article addresses the standards for training and competence as set forth by the Council…

Even though using metaphors in a therapeutic context is common, there are very few studies that address their effects. This study examines the effects of storytelling in therapy. After discussing a problem in a current relationship, 42 female participants were randomly assigned to receive either a story or psychoeducational information. Results…

Humans organize into constellations subjective attributes that help them to know themselves. Self-esteem refers only to those aspects of one's self-concept to which an evaluation is assigned. Self-esteem reflects one's sense of personal efficacy and worth. Love has been described as emotional closeness, passion, and decision/commitment; esteem for…

Like a fire out of control, jealousy can reduce a marriage to rubble. It can leave self-esteem ruined. Although oversimplified, the pathologically jealous person regards even slight signs as conclusive evidence of betrayal. Where jealousy arises exclusively within a relationship then a counselor might examine the jealous person's self-concept and…

Nonbehavioral approaches to marital therapy have only recently become subject to empirical validation in contrast to extensively researched behavioral approaches. Behavioral marital therapy outcome research was examined as a reference point for evaluating the outcome studies of four nonbehavioral marital approaches: insight-oriented, cognitive,…

This digest focuses on issues of importance to the supervision of marriage and family counselors. A brief overview notes that the defining hallmark of marriage and family supervision has been a systemic orientation. Other distinguishing features include a reliance on live forms of supervision, and the viewing of ethical issues within larger…

This paper is an attempt to construct a theoretical model of conjoint interviews in marriage counseling. It focuses on the relative power distribution of the three persons in a conjoint interview situation and explicates, in model form, the consequences of this distribution for counseling. (Author)

Both spouses were placed in separate mixed counseling groups in which the focus was on interpersonal relationships. Marital problems were discussed only as related to feelings experienced in the group. In the case cited, results were favorable. (Author)

This paper illustrates the construction, delivery, and processing of therapeutic stimulus metaphors in couple or family therapy. An introduction to the therapeutic metaphor discusses the uses of metaphors in therapy to denote a likeness between a client and another object or person, and to avoid client resistance. The usefulness of metaphors in…

Cognitive factors have been shown to play an important role in marital distress. To examine the importance of the self-other distinction for understanding the impact of attributions on marital satisfaction, two studies were conducted. In the first study, causal attributions for naturally occurring behavior by the self and spouse were investigated…

The lack of licensing laws in most states that would require minimal standards of training and experience for marriage and family therapists make necessary this monograph, which provides consumers with the necessary information to help them find family counseling services that are most appropriate for their needs. Several questions concerning the…

Family theory is related to work with marital dysfunction, with three areas highlighted: (1) therapist's view of his place in family; (2) child's place in marital strategy; and (3) place of blame in marriage struggle. A model to differentiate "good guys" and "bad guys" is presented. Presented at New York State Psychological Association, Spring…