ABSTRACT

Strong Couples: Basic Skills that Elicit Connection and Transform Relationships introduces an intelligent and flexible framework to guide sessions with couples. Informed by grounded theory research, this book provides a foundation for understanding couples’ needs and advancing sessions toward lasting and meaningful change.

Drawing on illustrated case examples throughout, Murray demonstrates the value of couples counseling for all by providing an adaptive structure to be applied across diverse contexts and circumstances. With chapters focused on areas of self and relational awareness, genuine engagement, vulnerability and responsiveness, sharing responsibility, and valuing one another, this book will help counselors guide couple discoveries and new relationship experiences. Each chapter is fully integrated with therapeutic techniques to realize this process.

Mobilizing the couple’s initiative to explore and develop their relationship, this book will aid counselors and marriage and family therapists alike to implement purposeful steps for helping couples change.

chapter |2 pages

Introduction

chapter |2 pages

The Case of Joel and Lisa

part I|2 pages

Hold

part II|2 pages

Discover

chapter 2|23 pages

Knowing One’s Self

chapter 3|33 pages

Histories and Contexts of Relating

Understanding Family Patterns and Stages

part III|2 pages

Change

chapter 4|28 pages

Genuine and Authentic Engagement

chapter 5|34 pages

Responsiveness and Vulnerability

chapter 7|20 pages

Valuing One Another and the Relationship

part IV|2 pages

Integrate

chapter 8|6 pages

Considerations for Application