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Rule-Governed Speaker-Listener Technique

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Communication skills training

Introduction

Communication skills training* is commonly used within couple and family therapy (CFT) as a way of teaching clients to communicate in a manner that is safe and respectful. Speaker-listener (SL) technique is a specific method of communication skills training* that offers structure and rules for all parties attempting to verbally navigate difficult topics. This technique is typically used with couples, commonly in behavioral couple therapy programs, working on enhancing their relationship in therapy. A specific example of SL can be found within the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP; Markman et al. 2010), prevention and intervention program designed to teach premarital couples communication and problem-solving skills (see Stanley et al. 1997). This is an empirically supported module for improving communication and problem solving. Here, we suggest a variation on this method of SL to target partners experiencing...

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References

  • Diamond, R. M., & Lebow, J. (2016). Rule-governed speaker-listener technique: To facilitate “good enough” coordination with minimum communication between divorcing couples. In G. Weeks, S. Fife, & C. Peterson (Eds.), Techniques for the couple therapist: Essential interventions from the experts. New York: Routledge.

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  • Gottman, J. M. (1999). The marriage clinic: A scientifically based marital therapy. New York: W. W. Norton & Co Inc.

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  • Markman, H. J., Stanley, S. M., & Blumberg, S. L. (2010). Fighting for your marriage. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

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  • Sauer, J. J. (2007). Mediating child custody disputes for high conflict couples: Structuring mediation to accommodate the needs & desires of litigious parents. Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal, 7, 501.

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  • Stanley, S. M., Markman, H. J., & Blumberg, S. L. (1997). The speaker/listener technique. The Family Journal, 5(1), 82–83.

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  • Wagner, A., & Diamond, R. M. (2017). Families of divorce. In S. Browning & B. van Eeden-Moorefield (Eds.), Contemporary families at the nexus of research and practice. New York: Routledge.

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Correspondence to Rachel M. Diamond .

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Diamond, R.M., Lebow, J.L. (2019). Rule-Governed Speaker-Listener Technique. In: Lebow, J.L., Chambers, A.L., Breunlin, D.C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_1129

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