Relationship Enhancement Therapy

Relationship Enhancement Therapy (RE) is a couples-therapy system conceived of, designed, and first implemented by Bernard Guerney Jr., who integrated the client-centered theory of Carl Rogers, the interpersonal theory of Henry Stack Sullivan, the behavior modification and learning theories of Skinner and Bandura, and the psychodynamic theory of Freud, in formulating RE. In this book Dr. Scuka presents an up-to-date, comprehensive theoretical and practical treatment of RE, in which he gives the reader a guide to implementing the principles of this dynamic theory. The book is written principally with couples therapy in mind, although there is an acknowledged relevance to family therapy, and the author calls attention the many skills and therapy techniques that would be applicable to family therapy. Though designed to allow a therapist of any level of experience to begin working with the RE model, this book is more than a standard cookbook, as it considers a variety of special RE therapy techniques, discusses the entire clinical intake process, the application of the RE model to the treatment of affairs, use with difficult clients, and family therapy issues such as domestic violence and stepfamilies.

Rob Scuka, Ph.D., M.S.W., is Executive Director of theNational Institute of Relationship Enhancement (NIRE),and has served as an Adjunct Faculty Member at the Schoolof Social Work, University of Maryland at Baltimore.

Preface. Acknowledgments. Introduction. Design of the Book. Use of Sources in this Book. Two Terminological Clarifications. My Philosophy in Working with Couples. Part I: Theory, Research and Methods. Introduction to Relationship Enhancement Therapy with Couples. The Empirical Validation of Relationship Enhancement Therapy. Deep Empathy as the Foundation of RE Therapy. Part II: Beginning the RE Therapy Process. Conducting the Clinical Intake with Couples in RE Therapy. Part III: Teaching the Core RE Skills and Launching a Couple's First Dialogue. Transition Deciding How to Proceed: Time-designated Format versus Experiential Format. First Session Post-intake: Introducing Couples to the RE Model and Teaching Couples Effective Conflict Management. Embracing the Other: Teaching Empathic Skill. Communicating Respectfully and Dialoging Constructively: Teaching Expressive and Discussion/negotiation Skills. Using the Experiential Format to Launch a Couple's First Dialogue. The Heart of the Matter: The RE Dialogue Process in Action. Part IV: Integrating the Other RE Skills into the Couple's Dialogue Process. Keeping Dialogues on Track: Teaching Facilitation Skill. Getting to Win-Win: Teaching Problem/Conflict Resolution Skill. The Challenges of Changing Behavior: Teaching Self-change and Other-change Skills.