ABSTRACT

This chapter provides an overview of the changing social and cultural trends that have influenced, and continue to influence, the institution of marriage. It also provides a psychological perspective on the process of attraction and love, and the developmental phases of a committed, intimate relationship. Distress in an intimate relationship continues to be the most common reason for the referral of clients to mental health professionals. The chapter describes the development of couple therapy as a professional discipline and profiles the changing pattern of the clinical practice of couple therapy. An examination of couple therapy best begins with a discussion of the larger contexts in which relationships exist and in which relational problems and issues arise. Couples often complain that their love has cooled when, in reality, they are speaking about a change in the level of passion. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.