Helping Couples Change: A Social Learning Approach to Marital Therapy [Hardcover]

Richard B. Stuart. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 20, 1980 | ISBN-10: 0898626048 | ISBN-13: 978-0898626049 | Edition: 1

Now available in paper for the first time, this classic work presents a structured, rigorously tested, six-stage strategy for improving intimate relationships. Therapists and counselors will benefit from practical, step-by-step guidance for deciding how, why, and when to employ such widely cited Stuart techniques as "caring days," communication improvements, behavioral contracting, the "powergram" procedure for decision making, and conflict containment. These techniques not only provide a program for identifying and producing positive behavior change, but give the therapist the tools to assess therapeutic outcome and empirically validate the efficacy of change. A new preface to the paperback edition situates the book within the contemporary couple therapy landscape and reflects on the continuing evolution of the author's approach.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Long before it became fashionable for therapists to actually spell out in detail what they do in therapy, as in today's many treatment manuals, Dick Stuart wrote one of the first groundbreaking couple therapy books that accomplished just that. In 1980, Helping Couples Change seemed destined to become a true 'classic.' Now, over two decades later, it has most emphatically achieved that status."--Alan S. Gurman, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin Medical School

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Richard B. Stuart, DSW, ABPP, is Program Director, Respecialization in Clinical Psychology, The Fielding Graduate Institute, and Clinical Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychiatry, University of Washington. He has more than 40 years of teaching and research experience in psychology, psychiatry, family medicine, and social work.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 442 pages
• Publisher: Guilford Press; 1 edition (October 20, 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898626048
• ISBN-13: 978-0898626049
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #785,324 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Needs moderization, October 18, 2001

By 

Harry W. Miller, Jr. (Laurel, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Helping Couples Change: A Social Learning Approach to Marital Therapy (Hardcover)

This book contains SOME very helpful information, but the info is simply not well organized or very readable, i.e., specifically, it could truly use a wholesale re-editing & modernization of its presentation and content. Over 20 yrs. have passed since the book's publication, and most of the material would benefit substantially from a contemporary presentation with "reader appeal" in mind, fresh examples, inclusion of a section on the important topic of rebuilding of trust (after extramarital affair/s), etc. This relatively expensive book is really boring, unexciting, and somewhat lacking in content, as is. That's a shame!

1.0 out of 5 stars I knew this guy, December 22, 2011

By 

Susan S. (Kirkland, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Helping Couples Change: A Social Learning Approach to Marital Therapy (The Guilford Family Therapy Series) (Paperback)

He was totally horrible. I cannot believe he has another book out that people pay good money for. I'd never buy another one. This guy has many personal problems. IMHO, this man is mentally ill. His advice is perverted.

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Needs moderization, October 18, 2001

By 

Harry W. Miller, Jr. (Laurel, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Helping Couples Change: A Social Learning Approach to Marital Therapy (Hardcover)

This book contains SOME very helpful information, but the info is simply not well organized or very readable, i.e., specifically, it could truly use a wholesale re-editing & modernization of its presentation and content. Over 20 yrs. have passed since the book's publication, and most of the material would benefit substantially from a comptemporary presentation with "reader appeal" in mind, fresh examples, inclusion of a section on the important topic of rebuilding of trust (after extramarital affair/s), etc. This relatively expensive book is really boring, unexciting, and somewhat lacking in content, as is. That's a shame!