Mark A. Whisman – författare

Edited and authored by leaders in the field, this comprehensive three-volume set lays a solid foundation for integrating theory, research, practice, and policy in contemporary family psychology. Volume describes the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of the discipline, including an overview of traditional theories influential contemporary theories and complex research designs, statistical modeling, and experience sampling, among other topics. The volume presents a lifespan approach to family psychology, recognizing the importance of addressing how families change over time, and it discusses different forms of contemporary families. Volume 2 focuses on the application of family psychology to an array of mental and physical health conditions, societal issues, and shared systems such as schools and health care. Volume 3 addresses contemporary couple, family, and parenting interventions grounded in family psychology theory and science, as well as issues related to family psychology training. The vast scope of the handbook argues that family psychology has evolved to have a major impact not only on the practice of psychology, but also on how researchers in the field investigate the complexities of the human condition.

This essential handbook describes effective treatments for a particularly challenging clinical population: couples struggling with both relationship distress and individual mental health difficulties. Distinguished scientist-practitioners provide detailed accounts of their respective approaches, reviewing conceptual and empirical foundations as well as clinical procedures. Included are well-established treatments for couples in which one or both partners has anxiety, mood disorders, schizophrenia, substance abuse, sexual dysfunction, or physical aggression. Also covered are emerging couple-based approaches to managing personality disorders, PTSD, difficulties related to aging and physical illness, and other problems. Following a standard format to facilitate comparison across treatments, each chapter is illustrated with detailed case material. Provided are powerful insights and tools for couple and family therapists, clinicians providing individual therapy, and students in any mental health discipline.

In ""Couple Therapy for Depression"", Dr. Mark A. Whisman shows his approach to treating couples in which one or both partners are experiencing depression. His cognitive-behavioral approach focuses on building relationship skills and behavioral patterns, as behavior can usually be changed more readily than emotions, and oftentimes a change in affect follows a change in behavior. In this session, Dr. Whisman works with a married couple in which the husband has bipolar disorder and the wife is experiencing depression. Both partners are dealing with issues outside their marriage, including financial demands from ex-spouses. Dr. Whisman works with the couple on discerning the crux of their presenting issues, and then he introduces them to some problem-solving and communication skills so they might support each other more effectively.