ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the primary models and skills associated with counseling couples and families. Structural, strategic, and Gottman’s models are discussed along with general principles of family counseling. Structural models emphasize the hierarchy and roles within a family unit by attempting to change the fundamental structure of the system. Strategic models explore dysfunctional patterns and seek ways to disrupt those patterns and create new, more functional behaviors. And Gottman’s model is widely applied to couple counseling. This model analyzes the communication of couples and assesses for destructive language.
