Using Bowen Family Systems Theory as a theoretical underpinning, in this study, we investigated the hypothesis that clients with higher levels of differentiation would improve more quickly in therapy than clients with lower levels of differentiation. Hierarchical Linear Modeling was used to analyze the data over nine sessions of therapy in a…

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…

The study of causal attributions at the interpersonal level has been an integral part of attribution research. Unfortunately most attribution research has involved persons unfamiliar with each other. The marital relationship is an example of the need for understanding causal attributions among intimates. A striking feature of marital interaction…

American family life is being transformed by the trend toward two paycheck families, yet most people have not been socialized to live in this way, and social institutions have been slow to accommodate the needs of two paycheck families. Accordingly, this paper presents a package of therapeutic techniques designed to help members of two paycheck…

This paper describes a pilot project designed to provide a training and implementation program for volunteer, paraprofessional facilitators of a marriage and family intervention method known as Structured Enrichment. The intervention, which was designed to teach couples and families to negotiate specific problem issues in their relationships, is…

The interaction between post separation adjustment for reunited military families and the Women's Liberation Movement is a complex occurrence which is beginning to have a profound effect on some military families. Two forces are acting upon wives of servicemen that subject marriages to conflicts previously unheard of. One force is the critical…

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…

The Columbus (Georgia) College Community Services Program conducted a symposium on the interrelationships of marriage, divorce and society. Six sessions were designed to facilitate interaction among symposium participants from community members, academic humanists and professional counselors. The objectives were to consider the implications of…

Designed to facilitate increased communication competencies of partners in two-person, relatively long-term relationships, the Communicating as a Couple workshop was developed and tested to provide knowledge of specific and useful competencies, along with a rationale, a supportive environment, feedback, and motivation. The four 90-minute exercise…

The educational approach in parent groups has not demonstrated itself effective, particularly in dysfunctional families. Parent groups, to be effective, must include, (a) an educational component, (b) a therapeutic component, and (c) an eclectic approach that gives parent specific management techniques but also focuses on the marital and family…

This presentation focuses on the development of an online, graduate course entitled "Marriage and Family Therapy." This course was a traditional, face-to-face class, offered by an urban university. The professor who teaches the course worked with three graduate students during the Fall 2000 semester to design and develop the online…

The papers presented at this conference consider the many roles counselors play in people's lives throughout their lifespan. The age of technology has aided the practice of counseling in becoming international in scope, although there are different functional frameworks that exist in various political, economic, social, and value systems in world…

The professional community has the responsibility to explore effective, economic methods for enhancing the parent's understanding and skills in helping his child to grow with as few as possible disturbances of interrelatedness. This paper describes a procedure which has had some effectiveness in parent group discussions in a public school setting.…

The present paper focuses on the status of the research literature on fathering and emphasizes the need for further research concerning the impact of the father on the personality development of children. (Author)

Lists and annotates the winning filmstrips, videotapes, and slide sets in the Second Annual National Council of Family Relations Awards Competition held in April 1982. (JAC)