Doing Couple Therapy Craft and Creativity in Work with Intimate Partners

Now thoroughly revised, this practical, user-friendly guide has helped thousands of novice couple therapists and students to navigate the challenges of clinical work with couples in conflict. Robert Taibbi presents effective strategies for rapidly identifying a couple's core issues and conducting each stage of therapy, from the first sessions to termination. Rich with sensitive case material, the book features end-of-chapter exercises that help readers identify and develop their own strengths as practitioners. Appendices include reproducible client handouts that can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size.

New to This Edition
*Three chapters offering detailed treatment maps for common couple problems, with new case examples.
*Chapter on the middle stages of treatment.
*Increased attention to the all-important opening sessions.
*Sharper focus on the three major obstacles to couple success: poor communication, emotional wounds, and differing visions.
*Reproducible client handouts explaining key techniques.

See also the author's Doing Family Therapy, Fourth Edition: Craft and Creativity in Clinical Practice.

Robert Taibbi, LCSW, has over 40 years’ experience as a clinician, supervisor and clinical director, primarily in community mental health working with children, couples, and families. He is the author of over 300 articles and six books, including Doing Family Therapy, Third Edition; Clinical Social Work Supervision; Boot Camp Therapy; and The Art of the First Session. In addition, he writes the online column “Fixing Families” for Psychology Today, has served as an advice columnist for several magazines, and has received three national writing awards for best consumer health writing. Mr. Taibbi provides trainings both nationally and internationally in couple therapy, family therapy, brief therapy, and clinical supervision, and has served as adjunct professor at several universities. He is currently in private practice in Charlottesville, Virginia.

1. Into the Fray: Theoretical Foundation and Overview
2. The Basics: Clinical Goals and Tasks
3. Relationship Obstacle 1: Poor Communication Skills
4. Relationship Obstacles 2 and 3: Emotional Wounds and Differing Visions
5. Beginnings: Structure and Tasks
6. Beginnings in Action
7. Middle Stages
8. Termination
9. The Developmental Landscape
10. Treatment Maps for Common Couple Problems: Affairs, Money Issues, and Violent and Volatile Couples
11. Treatment Maps for Common Couple Problems: Sexual Issues, “Stale” Relationships, and Extended Family Issues
12. Treatment Maps for Common Child-Related Problems
13. One Helping Two, Two Helping One: Working with Individuals in Relationships
14. Life in the Details: The Nuts and Bolts of Couple Therapy
Appendix A. Explanation of Emotional Wounds
Appendix B. Instructions for a First Aid Plan for Violent Couples
Appendix C. Instructions for Meditation
Appendix D. Instructions for the Emotional Freedom Technique
Appendix E. Instructions for Using Mindfulness to Reduce Anxiety
References
Index