Techniques for the Couple Therapist features many of the most prominent psychotherapists today, presenting their most effective couple therapy interventions. This book provides clinicians with a user-friendly quick reference with an array of techniques that can be quickly read and immediately used in session. The book includes over 50 chapters by experts in the field on the fundamental principles and techniques for effective couple therapy. Many of the techniques focus on common couple therapy processes such as enactments, communication, and reframing. Others focus on specific presenting problems, such as trauma, sexual issues, infidelity, intimate partner violence, and high conflict. Students, beginning therapists, and seasoned clinicians will find this pragmatic resource invaluable in their work with couples.

Preface I. Fundamental Principles for Effective Couple Therapy 1. The Heart and Soul of Couple Therapy Fife 2. Joining: From the Perspective of the Use of Self Aponte 3. The Road to Mastery: Three Steps for Improving Performance as a Couples Therapist Miller and Hubble 4. The Partners for Change Outcome Management System (PCOMS) Duncan and Sparks II. Techniques and Interventions A. Enactments 5. Enactment: From the Perspective of the Use of Self Aponte 6. Enactments in Five Developmental Stages Davis 7. Effectively Structuring Enactments Davis and Espinoza B. Couple Communication 8. Expanding Levels of Communication Weeks and Gambescia 9. Rule-Governed Speaker-Listener Techniques Diamond and Lebow 10. Problem Solving Strategies Based on PREP (Prevention and Relationship Education Program) Parson, Ritchie, and Markman 11. The Daily Dialogue Carlson and Lorelle 12. Using Shared Journaling to Practice Communication Skills with Couples Zimmerman and Haddock 13. Soft/Hard/Soft Communication Papernow 14. Multidirectional Partiality Long and Kort C. Reframing 15. Systemic Reframing Simon 16. Taking Ownership Carlson and Lorelle 17. Re-Attribution Epstein 18. Clarifying the Negative Cycle in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) Johnson and Brubacher 19. Externalizing Conversations Combs and Freedman 20. Re-Storying the Problem Long and Kort 21. Reattribution and Narrative Change Diamond and Lebow D. Anger and Conflict 22. Anger Management Self-Talk Epstein 23. Unbalancing Simon 24. Confronting Splitting Siegel 25. Identifying and Working through Projective Identification Siegel 26. Helping Partners Break Free of Adversarial Relationships: Transitioning from I-It to I-Thou Fife 27. Tracking Protective Sequences in Internal Family Systems Therapy Herbine-Blank 28. Emphatic Joining Papernow E. Intimacy, Growth, and Change 29. Aspects of Intimacy Fife 30. Intimacy and Sharing Hurts L’Abate 31. Deepening Attachment Emotion in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) Johnson and Brubacher 32. Asking about the Absent but Implicit in Narrative Therapy Freedman and Combs 33. What’s Better?: Focusing on Positives Jordan 34. Scaling Questions with Couples Jordan 35. Support Talk: Intervention for Enhancing Social Support Based on PREP (The Prevention and Relationship Education Program) Ritchie, Parsons, and Markman 36. Hugging, Holding, Huddling, and Cuddling (3HC) L’Abate 37. "Your Cyberplace or Mine?": Electronic Fantasy Dates Hertlein 38. Forgiveness in Couples Therapy: Expanding Compassion, Responsibility, and Apology Hammer and Hargrave 39. Restoration of Relationships After Affairs Hargrave and Hammer 40. Myths about Marriage Larson 41. Developmental Tasks in the Critical First Year of Marriage: Clinical Guidelines Larson F. Health and Wellness 42. A Biopsychosocial-Spiritual Assessment in Brief or Extended Couple Therapy Formats Hodgson, Lamson, and Kolobova 43. Using the Wellness Wheel with Couples Zimmerman and Haddock 44. Identifying and Reducing Stress that Influences Relational Health Lamson, Hodgson, and Muse 45. Psychoeducation on the Influences of Stress on Couples Milek and Bodenmann 46. 3-Phase Method of Dyadic Coping Bodenmann and Milek G. Intimate Partner Violence 47. Clinical Assessment Interview for Intimate Partner Violence Smith and Whiting 48. "I didn’t hurt you, but if I did I had a good reason!": Denial and Distortion in Abuse Couples Whiting and Smith H. Addressing Childhood Sexual Abuse in Couple Therapy 49. Using Psychoeducation when Assessing and Treating the Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) in Couple Relationships Peterson and Smedley 50. Promoting Healing of Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) Survivors within the Couple Relationship Smedley and Peterson