What Happens in Couple Therapy

Douglas K. Snyder, PhD, LMFT, is Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Texas A&M University, where he also served as Director of Clinical Training for 20 years. Dr. Snyder has engaged in clinical practice and training of couple therapists since the 1970s, and is a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). He is coauthor or coeditor of several books for mental health professionals and general readers. Dr. Snyder has served as editor of the Clinician’s Research Digest and as associate editor of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology and the Journal of Family Psychology. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Contribution to Research in Family Therapy Award from AAMFT, the Distinguished Contribution to Family Psychology Award from the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 43 (Society for Couple and Family Psychology), and the Distinguished Psychologist Award from APA Division 29 (Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy).Jay L. Lebow, PhD, ABPP, LMFT, is Clinical Professor of Psychology at Northwestern University and Senior Scholar at The Family Institute at Northwestern. He is a past editor-in-chief of the journal Family Process. Dr. Lebow has engaged in clinical practice, supervision, and research on couple and family therapy since the 1970s, and is board certified in family psychology and an approved supervisor and clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). His numerous publications focus on the practice of couple and family therapy, the relationship of research and practice, integrative practice, and intervention strategies with divorcing families. Dr. Lebow served as president of the Society for Couple and Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (APA Division 43) and on the board of directors of the American Family Therapy Academy (AFTA). He is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from AFTA and the Family Psychologist of the Year Award from APA Division 43.

"This book makes a real contribution to the field. It surveys different ways of seeing and doing therapy, with many different kinds of couples. Chapters take us inside the therapist’s head and open up the process of therapy. The editors' comments on each case adds a valuable perspective. Each case and its story of how change occurs is fascinating and informative."--Susan M. Johnson, EdD, developer of emotionally focused therapy for couples"In this wonderful book, a wide range of experts demonstrate how to think through tough cases. Therapists get to see how master clinicians confront common dilemmas in helping couples. This book is a great teaching tool."--John M. Gottman, PhD, author of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work"For many beginning--or even seasoned--couple therapists, delivering an evidence-based treatment in an organic, connected way can seem impossible. That is why What Happens in Couple Therapy: A Casebook on Effective Practice and Clinical Handbook of Couple Therapy, Sixth Edition should be required reading for all providers and students. Demonstrating how to implement the treatments covered in the Handbook, the master therapists’ narratives in the Casebook offer a guide to the richly complex journey of psychotherapy. Combining intellectual heft, caring, wisdom, and humility, these two volumes are perfect companions."--Melanie M. Domenech Rodríguez, PhD, Department of Psychology, Utah State University; Editor, Family Process"A 'must-have' for any couple therapist's bookshelf. This casebook fills a gap by describing the nitty-gritty of how treatment models are applied with real-world cases. The contributors are master clinicians who take great care to describe their clinical encounters, case conceptualizations, specific interventions used, and the sometimes mixed outcomes of treatment. I especially appreciate that the editors fostered a culture of humility throughout the book by having the clinicians share their own reactions in providing therapy. This is a standout text for training in couple therapy."--Candice M. Monson, PhD, Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Ontario, Canada"Couple therapy is one part science, one part craft, and one part art. This extraordinary book describes the nuances of the craft and art of stimulating change in distressed couples. Take a front-row seat to see some of the most skilled couple therapists establish, maintain, and repair the often-precarious working relationship with each partner; select ideas and techniques to address the couple’s issues as they emerge in the moment; find the balance between working on challenges and celebrating strengths; and equip the couple with the skills and relational sensibilities they need to traverse life’s ups and downs. This book belongs in every graduate course on couple therapy, in postgraduate training programs, and on the shelves of even the most experienced practitioners."--Peter Fraenkel, PhD, Department of Psychology, The City College of the City University of New York"Snyder and Lebow offer an unusually intimate window into what actually happens when skilled clinicians lean into the pain, joy, and possibility of couple therapy. Addressing issues such as the transition to parenthood, sexuality, dealing with serious illness, and challenges facing same-sex and interracial couples, each chapter in this beautifully edited volume captures the thinking and feeling behind good work with couples. Therapists and trainees will be enriched by the common humanity that connects these richly diverse examples. Contributors share how their personal vulnerabilities coexist with--and even enhance--their clinical excellence."--Carmen Knudson-Martin, PhD, Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy Program (Emerita), Lewis and Clark College"Gathering a large group of leading couple therapists to describe and illustrate their work is an extremely ambitious project. Snyder and Lebow have provided the expert editing, nurturance, and commentary to make this casebook compelling reading, regardless of your orientation. I recommend this text both for those in private practice and for students in couple therapy classes. Not only will you learn more about the various approaches and how some have been adapted to particular problems, but you will also learn about the humanity and vulnerability of the authors as they work with difficult clients."--Richard C. Schwartz, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School/Cambridge Health Alliance-

• 1. Voices in Couple Therapy: Journeys with Master Clinicians, Jay L. Lebow & Douglas K. Snyder2. Emotion-Focused Therapy for Couples, Serine Warwar & Rhonda N. Goldman3. Integrative Couple Therapy with a Surprising Twist, Ellen F. Wachtel4. Integrative Psychodynamic Couple Therapy in the Presence of Enduring Personality Dysfunctions, Arthur C. Nielsen5. Gottman Method Couple Therapy and Healing from Betrayal, Carrie U. Cole & Donald L. Cole6. An Integrative Relational–Neurobiological Approach to Transforming Couple Vulnerability Cycles, Mona DeKoven Fishbane7. Integrating Common Factors in Couple Therapy, Sarah E. Griffes & Adrian Blow8. Discernment Counseling with a Couple on the Brink, William J. Doherty & Steven M. Harris9. Therapy with Black Couples: The Intersection of Race and Class, Anthony L. Chambers10. Addressing Gender, Class, and Racism in a Mexican Transnational Couple, Celia Jaes Falicov11. Therapy with Intercultural and Interfaith Couples, Reenee Singh12. Affirmative Therapy for Queer Relationships, Rebecca Harvey13. Couple Therapy with Older Adults: Navigating Challenges and Building on Opportunities, Douglas K. Snyder14. Couple Therapy with Young Adults: Navigating the Transition to Parenthood, Erica A. Mitchell15. Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy with Military and Veteran Couples, Barbara M. Dausch, Shirley M. Glynn, & Andrew Christensen16. Couple Therapy and Sexuality: Promoting Intimacy and Connection, Tammy Nelson17. Couple Therapy and Spirituality: Finding Faith in Love, James L. Furrow18. Working with Couples Encountering Serious Illness: It’s More Than Medical, Donald H. Baucom & Danielle M. WeberIndex