Rugel (psychology, George Mason U., Fairfax, Virginia) provides new and experienced couples therapists with a treatment manual on support-focused marital therapy, the goal of which is to increase marital satisfaction by increasing the level of social support a spouse provides to his or her partner.

Help your marital therapy clients become more supportive of their partners
As a therapist, you see many unhappy couples who long for the loving support that used to be the touchstone of their relationship. Treating Marital Stress: Support-Based Approaches helps you restore that support, beginning with detailed descriptions of the five major patterns of marital distress and continuing with a comprehensive training manual that includes figures, case studies, and samples of possible dialogues between clients and therapists. Step-by-step discussion of the first five sessions with a...

What happened since the honeymoon?

Are you mad at your partner all the time?

Do you feel like your partner is selfish?

Do innocent conversations suddenly escalate into arguments?

Does your partner misinterpret what you say?

Do you feel emotionally distant from your partner?
If you answered YES to any of the above questions, this book was written for you
For more than 40 years, Dr. Rugel has observed how quickly spouses feel disregarded in marriage and respond in a manner that upsets the partner. Their tranquil interactions then spiral into an unpleasant...