Marriage and Relationship Education What Works and How to Provide It

Grounded in extensive research and clinical experience, this indispensable book addresses the "whats," "whys," and "how-tos" of conducting effective marriage and relationship education. Leading authority W. Kim Halford reviews a range of contemporary models and provides an in-depth description of his own approach, Couple CARE. Session-by-session guidelines for therapists show how to help groups or individual couples - including those facing major life changes or stressors -foster closeness and communication, manage conflicts, and prevent common relationship problems. The book also explains how to use commercially available online assessment tools to help each couple develop their own relationship goals. It includes over 20 reproducible handouts and forms. This book will be invaluable to therapists and counselors who work with couples, including clinical psychologists, social workers, family therapists, psychiatrists, and pastoral counselors. It may also serve as a supplemental text in advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level courses.

W. Kim Halford, PhD, is Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. He was previously Professor of Clinical Psychology at Griffith University (1995–2008) and Director of Psychology at the Royal Brisbane Hospital (1991–1995). Dr. Halford has published four books and over 130 articles on couple therapy and couple relationship education. He works with couples adjusting to major life stresses and changes, including developing committed relationships, cancer diagnosis in a partner, becoming a parent, and forming a stepfamily. Dr. Halford leads the international team that developed the Couple CARE relationship education programs, is active in work with couples, and has provided training in work with couples to approximately 20,000 professionals in more than a dozen countries.

1. What Is Couple Relationship Education? Why Is It Needed? 2. Approaches to Couple Relationship Education and Their Effectiveness 3. Assessment in an Evidence-Based Approach to Couple Relationship Education 4. Couple CARE Program Overview and Tips for Implementation 5. Unit 1: Self-Change 6. Unit 2: Communication 7. Unit 3: Intimacy and Caring 8. Unit 4: Managing Differences 9. Unit 5: Sexuality 10. Unit 6: Looking Ahead