ABSTRACT
Romantic relationship distress and divorce has numerous far-reaching negative consequences on mental health (Whisman, 2007), physical well-being (Robles, Slatcher, Trombello, & McGinn, 2014), and child functioning (Ablow, Measelle, Cowan, & Cowan, 2009). Fortunately, efforts to improve relationship satisfaction are largely quite successful (e.g., Shadish & Baldwin, 2005). However, many couples fail to seek these empirically supported traditional forms of relationship improvement. Only 31% of couples participate in premarital relationship education (Stanley, Amato, Johnson, & Markman, 2006). Furthermore, fewer than 19% of intact couples have sought couple therapy and only 37% of divorced couples
sought professional assistance prior to separating ( Johnson, Stanley, Glenn, Amato, Nock, Markman, & Dion, 2002).
