Presents two cases chosen to draw attention to marital and developmental dynamics of suicidal behavior. Both case vignettes are based on individual interviews with suicidal persons and their spouses during the suicidal person's psychiatric hospitalization, and both include observations of the marital interaction. Case vignettes are followed by…

Briefly describes Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and explains Relationship Enhancement (RE) marital and family therapy. Provides rationale for understanding BPD as manifestation of lack of differentiation in intimate relationships, followed by explanation of how RE fosters differentiation between partners. Includes case study. (Author/NB)

This book describes the friend-to-friend process, a non-professional approach for helping a friend through a problem. The first chapter presents a transcript of a high school senior working through a problem. The use of three questions which address three levels of the human personality (thoughts, feelings, and actions) is described. Guidelines…

Calls occurrence of sibling incest underrecognized. Presents four cases of females who experienced sibling incest to illustrate problem areas, including issues of enforced secrecy, interpersonal power differentials, influences on sexual development, individual after effects, disturbances in family dynamics, and gender-based differences in…

Causes which need to be considered in assessing and treating discord between partners include the precipitating event, reaction of a person to that event, interactional dynamics of the partners, and goals and objectives of the relationship. This approach permits one to accept legitimate responsibility for his/her behavior and feelings. (Author)

Contributes to scholarship on technical communication and organizational politics and power. Shows how to analyze a power imbalance and succeed in ethically and diplomatically outflanking a more powerful gatekeeper. Argues that analysis of six power variables can help decide whether to go around a gatekeeper, force a concession, or take a chance.…

Presents a therapeutic procedure designed to prescribe the family's troublesome behavior pattern. A complement precedes delivering a task assignment. The metaphorical task redefines the serious complaint pattern into only one of the many options a family has for dealing with each other. A case study is presented. (Author/BEF)

Describes a career counseling case study where the counselor used social influence theory. Discusses the social influence model, which assumes counseling to be a process of interpersonal influence where counselors encourage clients to reattribute their difficulties to factors they can control, which leads to cognitive dissonance in the client,…

Presents a model of brief therapy with families allowing the therapist to develop a cognitive map of triadic interaction with a completeness which words alone cannot capture. The family is viewed as an interlocking system of interdependent relationships. Case material illustrates the use of this model in changing dysfunctional patterns. (Author)

Examines group relational factors in negotiations regarding humor. Examples from a self-analytic group are discussed. Proposes humor can turn into hostility unless it periodically comes under negotiation and efforts are made to place it under normative regulation. (JAC)

Discusses the dual-career couple in terms of common sources of family strains and gains resulting from career and domestic responsibilities. Presents case examples illustrating different forms of accomodation and possible subsequent problems. Strategies for stress reduction are presented and therapeutic guidelines offered. (JAC)

A structured technique for saying "good-bye," or terminating a relationship, an important aspect of the therapeutic relationship, is presented. It consists of three distinct phases that are all dynamically interrelated, and can also be structured into separation caused by death. The technique is described in terms of three specific areas…

Investigated latency-age children (N=11) who attempted or threatened suicide. Discovered common characteristics including: (1) suicidal parents; (2) a major family crisis; (3) excessive parental demands; (4) lack of satisfying relationships; (5) paradoxical death attitudes; and (6) positive strivings to stay alive. Developed a model for predicting…

Describes operation model incorporating paraprofessionals into junior high school counseling services (University of New Hampshire-Portsmouth Teacher Corps Project). Includes selection, training, and tasks of counselor-tutor. Presentation of case notes from counselor-tutor journal illustrates activities and value of counselor-tutors. (NRB)

Presents case summary of Cathy, a client who interacted with emergency services over two-year period. Marshall Knudson comments on crisis centers' overall capabilities of offering appropriate services to this type of client. Ronald Dyck concludes that center provided crisis-appropriate services to the client but suggests that centers may need to…