ABSTRACT
Sometimes a couples session can begin very badly. One person may come in intoxicated, both members of the couple may refuse to talk, one couple member may attack the therapist verbally, one may start on a rant, one may threaten to leave the relationship. In some sense there is no such thing as a 'bad' beginning in that most beginnings can be used to highlight important issues. In the hands of a skilled therapist most beginnings can be directed to become useful for the couples therapy. In one way the situation is simple. Therapy cannot be conducted when somebody is high. Maurice starts the therapy session with a statement that he is not going to put up with Bernice's behavior any longer. Bernice may hear nothing of what he says because she has been hooked by his threat to leave. Such a threat can easily override any other issue.
