Strong Couples

Strong Couples: Basic Skills that Elicit Connection and Transform Relationships introduces an intelligent and flexible framework to guide sessions with couples. Informed by grounded theory research, this book provides a foundation for understanding couples' needs and advancing sessions toward lasting and meaningful change.
Drawing on illustrated case examples throughout, Murray demonstrates the value of couples counseling for all by providing an adaptive structure to be applied across diverse contexts and circumstances. With chapters focused on areas of self and relational awareness, genuine engagement, vulnerability and responsiveness, sharing responsibility, and valuing one another, this book will help counselors guide couple discoveries and new relationship experiences. Each chapter is fully integrated with therapeutic techniques to realize this process.
Mobilizing the couple's initiative to explore and develop their relationship, this book will aid counselors and marriage and family therapists alike to implement purposeful steps for helping couples change.

Kirsten Winther Murray, PhD, LPC is Associate Professor of Counselor Education at the University of Montana. A licensed counselor, she has taught, supervised, and practiced for 14 years, concentrating on present-focused relational work with couples and families.

Introduction; The Case of Joel and Lisa; Part I Hold; Chapter 1 Setting Foundations for Couple's Counseling; Part II Discover; Chapter 2 Knowing One's Self; Chapter 3 Histories and Contexts of Relating: Understanding Family Patterns and Stages; Part III Change; Chapter 4 Genuine and Authentic Engagement; Chapter 5 Responsiveness and Vulnerability; Chapter 6 Sharing Responsibility and Modeling Transformation; Chapter 7 Valuing One Another and The Relationship; Part IV Integration; Chapter 8 Considerations for Application