Summary

Abstract

Marital therapy in this handbook is presented as a positive approach to helping troubled relationships. The approach is equally applicable to couples experiencing severe conflict and strain and to those for whom the grind of daily routine and habit have dulled the luster of attachment and attraction. The key concept in marital therapy is communication training. Communication includes accurate and empathic listening as well as the direct and constructive expression of feelings. Effective communication pervades and mediates all aspects of married life: recreation, socializing, child management, money and budgeting, household chores, affection and sex, companionship, and conflict resolution. In this summary, we shall briefly review the contents of each of the chapters with an emphasis on the clinical, practical procedures that we have found helpful in our work with distressed marriages.