Suggests that by walking out of the consulting room, the therapist can stimulate enactment that would have been inhibited otherwise. Uses three case examples to illustrate the technique. Considers specific points of procedure and notes the technique's limitations and risks. (Author/BH)

Discusses shadow realities, which include unacceptable and threatening information and interpretations that could undermine negotiated relationship reality. Offers theoretical discussion of shadow realities, reasons people avoid them, gains and risks for exploring them, and the therapeutic applications of therapy within a framework that includes…

Presents a case example of contextual marital therapy in the treatment of a couple who presented for therapy because of an extramarital affair. The focus of this case centers on how the idea of forgiveness might be utilized to facilitate reconciliation in conflicted relationships. (GCP)

An integration of Adlerian and social constructionist ideas, the reflecting "as if" technique asks clients to take a reflective step backward to consider perceptual and behavioral alternatives as a prelude to their acting as if they were the couple they desire to be. This article describes the reflecting as if technique and provides a…

Asserts that marital assessment instruments can be used to enhance effects of marital counseling. Examines some of more popular marital instruments available, including Stuart's Couples Precounseling Inventory, Russell and Madsen's Marriage Counseling Report, Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis, Snyder's Marital Satisfaction Inventory, and…

Compared couples receiving 2 marital therapy approaches and control group over 10-week treatment period. Integrated systemic therapy (IST) and emotionally focused approach (EFT) both were found to be superior to control and to be equally effective in alleviating marital distress, facilitating conflict resolution and goal attainment, and reducing…

Describes therapy process in which couples are "separated" from reciprocal patterns which have become restraining and are currently affecting the relationship. Discusses role of therapist in helping couples break these patterns and separate from influence of discourse which they determine to be not suitable to their own preferred descriptions.…

Examined effectiveness of Relationship Enhancement program in increasing functional and basic levels of differentiation of self among 20 married couple participants. Data from pretest, posttest, and follow-up measures revealed significant increases in functional and basic levels of differentiation of self and in relationship quality and…

Addresses advantages of, and potential pitfalls in, integrated approaches to marital counseling. Presents a sequential approach in which various approaches to marital counseling are integrated without jeopardizing internal consistency and uniformity in treatment. Offers precounseling considerations and procedures for a five-session series.…

Identifies nine dimensions of intimacy, each having four interrelated components. Clinical assessments of these dimensions and components can be accomplished by use of the Marital Intimacy Needs Questionnaire. Offers an introduction to the instrument. (Author/MKA)

In response to repeated calls for process research on couple and family therapy, three different process research methodologies, grounded therapy, change events analysis, and experimental manipulation - are presented and evaluated. The strengths and weaknesses of each methodology are discussed, along with their role in generating and testing…

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of treating depression with coping-oriented couples therapy (COCT) as compared with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT; A. T. Beck, C. Ward, & M. Mendelson, 1961) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT; M. M. Weissman, J. C. Markowitz, & G. L. Klerman, 2000). Sixty couples, including 1…

This article provides a synopsis of the theoretical and empirical literature describing the effects of graduate study on marital satisfaction. These findings offer implications for psychoeducational and responsive interventions for family counselors working with this population.

Boolean analysis makes the Interpersonal Perception Method (IPM) readily adaptable to a wide variety of investigations. A general technique for the derivation of terms is demonstrated and a sample set of determinations for evaluation of marital therapy is derived. (Author)

Proposes use of dreamwork to evoke historical patterns or transgenerational themes. Describes new variant of dreamwork which combines aspects of both gestalt and family systems therapies. Implications of therapeutic dramatization for couple therapy are suggested. Examples are included. (Author/NB)