ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the situation in the UK regarding prevention and early intervention with couples at challenging family transition points. It also describes some work which Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships (TCCR) clinicians have been developing for parents experiencing high levels of interparental conflict. Family transitions present different challenges for each individual within the family and for couple relationships specifically. Many countries provide preventive interventions in the form of parenting support programmes to help families manage the challenges of bringing up children, and it is widely understood that making these programmes available early in the child's life will result in better outcomes for families. While the focus of the intervention is to help address the child's difficulties, attention is necessarily given to strengthening the parental alliance and the relationship between both parents. In projects such as the, TCCR clinicians liaise closely with practitioners in local services to identify participants for the group.
