ABSTRACT
Support, detriangulation, anger management, and communication avoidance interventions are designed to take anger out of the marital system. One can think of these interventions as bringing the relationship from negative to neutral. The therapist must focus on activities that will lower the self-protective barriers. If the couple can engage in pleasurable companionship and sexual activities, the need for self-protection will be diminished and the barriers will be lowered. The therapist begins to encourage Steve and Joan to engage in companionship activities, probing to determine what each wants in the way of companionship. When the therapist continues to focus on the assignment, the couple will begin to take it more seriously and will begin to take more active steps to do it. In order to break their impasse, the therapist emphasizes the importance of risk taking and creates a coordinated assignment. Despite the fear, someone needs to take the risk and initiate sex.
