A major revision to the definitive guide to conducting premarital counseling.
Following the success of the first two editions of this book, the authors updated their indispensable guide on the process and content of premarital counseling. They have added important information about issues in the forefront today: remarriage, the blended or step-family, intergroup marriages, and "younger" and "older" couples. The book is filled with practical and effective hands-on questionnaires and instruments that have been newly revised and widely tested by the authors. The book is written to meet the needs of a range of professionals including clergy, clinicians in social work, psychology, counseling, and marriage and family therapy.
A major revision for the 90's of the definitive guide to conducting premarital counseling.
Each year, in the United States, approximately 2.5 million couples marry and some 1.25 million couples divorce. And, while it is projected that 40 to 50 percent of couples may divorce at least once, the remarriage rates show that 75 to 80 percent of those persons who divorce, remarry. Marriage is big business and tremendous economic and psychological resources go into it. More and more, as people examine the strengths and shortcomings of marriage, they are turning to premarital counselors -- whether clergy or clinician -- in an attempt to gain assistance in strengthening or evaluating their potential for a successful marriage.
Following the success of the first two editions of this book (1980, 1987), the authors have updated it again to provide a definitive guide on the process and content of premarital counseling. The authors add important information about issues that areincreasingly in the forefront for counselors today: remarriage, the blended or step-family, intergroup marriages, and "younger" and "older" couples. While the clergy still provides most premarital counseling, the authors keep in mind the various roles, responsibilities, and interdisciplinary backgrounds of the wide variety of mental health professionals -- clinicians in social work, psychology, counseling, marriage and family therapy.
