ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines experts in different areas of psychology, social work, medicine and neuroscience relevant research that informs the practice of couples' therapy. It describes the use of terms "marital" and "couple/s," which refers to long-term, committed unions of romantic partners whether or not these are recognised by the state as marriage. The thousands of words of relevant research aim to offer a foundation for working with couples whose relationships are defined by diverse features. Even just a cursory reading of the descriptions of the seven couples has likely raised some questions about the role of thoughts, beliefs, emotions, conflicts and communication patterns for these distressed couples. By gathering the research findings of a wide range of relevant factors, it is hoped that the discussions about the application of science to couples' therapy will result in enhanced outcomes for both clients and therapists.
