This article explores the impact of relationship education on young adults' optimism about relationships and attitudes toward marriage whose parents were divorced and offers implications and suggestions for counselors and counselor educators. Previous research in the area of intimate and family relationships has demonstrated that adults who have…

This literature-based article will acquaint family counselors with the relevant family law statutes to better guide their counseling with stepfamilies and to help stepparents better understand the current laws regarding their status. The article will specifically address stepparent status, postdivorce custody, visitation, financial support plus…

Preadolescence is a challenging developmental stage, but when complicated or threatened by the effects of family dissolution or divorce, the challenges can be overwhelming. Such youngsters often need and can benefit from counseling intervention. One particularly appropriate intervention is bibliotherapy. Reasons for using bibliotherapy for such…

Although there have been significant increases in the number of women participating in the workforce in recent years, many females continue to choose the role of full-time wife and mother as their life's work. Because 12% of women become widowed and the divorce rate remains steady at about 50%, a number of these stay-at-home mothers are ultimately…

Describes how a counselor used a combination of systemic family counseling techniques with a divorced middle-aged male client. The counselor states that it proved to be an efficient and honoring combination that helped the client move differently, with more freedom and self-assurance, toward his goals. (MKA)

Study examines the effect of parental divorce and various dimensions of functioning in the family of origin on young adult development. Results indicate that parental divorce and family functioning significantly affect differentiation levels of young adults. Implications of the results for counselors and future researchers are provided. (Contains…

Notes that some intellectual and historical traditions of field of marital and family counseling suggest that counselors can have broader therapeutic role in their communities if they venture out of their offices to deliver programs in community settings and engage in prevention and education activities. Describes mechanics and benefits of such an…

The religious and spiritual concerns of clients and families experiencing divorce can be complicated. Many counselors are faced with the task of helping clients through divorce within a religious context, a context that is uncomfortable for many. This article suggests strategies to increase awareness of religious and spiritual implications of…

Focuses on demographic changes in families and implications for counseling couples and families. Contends that several important demographic changes in families have major impacts on kinds of clients that present for counseling and therapy. Looks at children born to unmarried women, separation and divorce, single-parent families, and remarriage…

Parental divorce is the issue of most concern for elementary school children. This article describes interventions for children-of-divorce groups for elementary school children. Suggests guidelines related to goal setting; securing agency and parental consent; leadership planning; recruitment, screening, and selection of members; group member…

Reviews research specific to the effects of parental divorce on adults in terms of relationship issues. Specific purposes of this review are to (a) explore research specific to intimacy and marital attitudes in adult children of divorce, (b) inform couple and family counselors of effects of parental divorce, and (c) relay implications for…

Reports on a group treatment model designed for individuals (N=44) in the predivorce stage of divorcing. Results indicate that the model had meaningful impact on individuals' anger, attachment, and ambivalence, suggesting that group treatment designed specifically for predivorced individuals can be effective in the early stages of divorce. (RJM)

Current research on effects of single-parent households on children's well-being found that families are more similar in their ability to foster child well-being. Family process has a greater effect on child well-being than family structure. Suggests s counselors treat each family as unique, foster ways to promote positive relating, and become…