Hope-Focused Marriage Counseling: A Guide to Brief Therapy [Hardcover]

Everett L., Jr. Worthington (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1999

Everett L. Worthington, Jr. offers a comprehensive manual for assisting couples over common rough spots and through serious problems in a manner that is compassionate, effective and brief. His hope-focused (rather than problem-focused) approach enables couples to see that change is possible and gives them a new outlook on the future. Combining this with a brief approach that addresses the realities of managed care and tight budgets, Worthington shows how to be strategic in each counseling situation by including teaching, training, exercises, forgiveness, modeling and motivation. At the heart of the book are dozens of interventions and exercises, including

• drawing on central values
• promoting confession and forgiveness
• strengthening communication
• aiding conflict resolution
• changing patterns of thinking
• developing intimacy
• cementing commitment

Backed by years of experience and substantial research, hope-focused marriage counseling offers hope to counselors that they can provide help to troubled couples quickly, compassionately and effectively. This paperback edition includes a new introduction, summarizing the latest findings and developments in marital counseling and applying hope-focused marriage counseling to today's cultural and clinical realities.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Everett L. Worthington Jr. (Ph.D., University of Missouri) is professor of psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he received the Distinguished Teaching Award. He also currently serves as chair of the department of psychology. A licensed clinical psychologist, he has been director of VCU's Marital Assessment, Therapy and Enrichment Center and executive director of the Templeton Foundation's Campaign for Forgiveness Research. He has published more than 150 articles and papers on marriage, family and forgiveness in a wide variety of journals and magazines. He is the founding editor of Marriage and Family: A Christian Journal and sits on the editorial boards of the American Journal of Family Therapy, the Journal of Psychology and Theology and the Journal of Psychology and Christianity. He has appeared on national media programs like Good Morning America and The 700 Club. He is the author of more than twenty books, including Marriage Counseling and Forgiving and Reconciling. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 324 pages
• Publisher: InterVarsity Press (May 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830815481
• ISBN-13: 978-0830815487
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,137,500 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A clear guide...., July 20, 2001

By 

"davidlmco" (Columbus, Indiana USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hope-Focused Marriage Counseling: A Guide to Brief Therapy (Hardcover)

This was a required text for a counseling class I'm taking. I find this book to be very informative and interesting. Although this book is geared toward Christian counsleors, it is also applicable to non-Christians - or if you're just looking for ways to improve your marriage. This book is not written at all like a textbook. It's very straight-forward and easy to read. Very little technical language is used, and even that is clearly explained.

I believe that this book is very, very good. It's giving me a clearer idea of how to counsel and what a counselor's main objectives are. I recommend this book to anybody interested in counseling, and even those who are already professional counselors. This book is applicable to Christians and non-Christians alike.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hope-Focused Marriage Counseling - A home run, March 15, 2007

By 

Warren A. Dorsch (Claverack, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hope-Focused Marriage Counseling: A Guide to Brief Therapy (Paperback)

A refreshingly different approach to marriage counseling that focuses upon restoring hope in the marriage rather than tackling problems. Excellent examples of interventions based upon what Worthington identifies as the nine areas of marriage. Easy to understand and even more easy to use. Outstanding work!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy Read, February 9, 2009

By 

A. Wood "jillyb" (Central Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hope-Focused Marriage Counseling: A Guide to Brief Therapy (Hardcover)

I needed this class for my masters program. It was a very positive book that was very easy to read. The interventions will be very helpful in future counseling.