ABSTRACT
Approaches to the maintenance and enhancement of couple relationships typically focus on the relationship between the couple, treating that relationship as a therapeutic context relatively independent of other family relationships. However, additional relationships in the family may powerfully affect and be affected by the quality and characteristics of the relationship between couples, particularly when couples have children. Moreover, current theory and research supports a family perspective on maintaining and enhancing close relationships, especially when families include children. Accordingly, bases exist for those concerned with practice directions for couples to be informed of the theory and evidence supportive of family perspective, and to take into account, or at least consider, this broader family perspective on couple functioning in their own work.
