Couples Therapy

Presents an innovative approach to couples therapy based upon a nonadversary therapeutic model that encourages partners to incorporate their conflicts and fantasies into their relationship. Sets forth a critique of the psychoanalytic, behavioral, and systems approaches and describes techniques for patient-therapist collaboration and supportive therapeutic intervention on behalf of each partner, Includes strategies for handling angry partners, withdrawn partners, polarized partners, and patients who reject the therapist's interpretations. BACKGROUND THEORY.

Depth Analysis Versus Ego Analysis.

TRADITIONAL APPROACHES TO COUPLES THERAPY.

The Psychoanalytic Approach.

The Systems Approach.

The Behavior Therapy Approach.

SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MY APPROACH.

The Inevitability of Fantasy and Alienation.

Love and Compromise.

An Individual Oriented Systems Approach.

An Insight Approach to Couples Therapy.

Resistance and Disqualification.

MAJOR FORMS OF INTERVENTION.

Clarifying Each Partner's Position.

Taking Each Partner's Side: Paired Binds Interpretations.

Developing a Shared Perspective.

APPLICATION TO CLASSIC PARTNER TYPES.

Withdrawn Partners.

Angry Partners.

Demanding-Withdrawn Partners.

THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF MY APPROACH.

Incorporating Problems into Relationships.

Incorporating Fantasies into Relationships.

References.

Index.

Daniel B. Wile, Ph.D., ABPP is the developer of Collaborative Couple Therapy.