Review

"This is one of the most important books on couple therapy ever published. Snyder and Whisman's sophisticated yet accessible text signifies that couple therapy is no longer of value solely for explicit relationship problems. As this eye-opening volume makes clear, couple therapy is now a first-line intervention for a wide range of clinical problems traditionally thought of as 'individual.' This superb volume should be required reading not only for courses on couple therapy, but also for any course on the treatment of adult psychopathology."--Alan S. Gurman, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin Medical School"At last, a book that tackles some of the issues that make certain couples hard to help. This is a book about couples in which the individual partners have their own problems, problems that interact with the couple's relationship. Everyone from graduate students to experienced clinicians will value the overviews of research and the practical guidelines on how to assess and treat the complexities of interactive individual and couple issues. This volume is going on my shelves in an easy-to-reach spot, so I can consult it when therapy gets stuck."--Kim Halford, PhD, Department of Clinical Psychology, Griffith University, Australia"Treating Difficult Couples: Helping Clients with Coexisting Mental and Relationship Disorders is a definitive, state-of-the-art text that pulls together the latest research and clinical innovation on couple treatment for the major individual and relational problems of our time. This volume includes chapters from a veritable 'who's who' of well-known couple researchers and clinicians. The reader will discover definitively what is known, and what isn't, about couple approaches to emotional, behavioral, and other health problems. The special strengths of the volume include its integrative conceptualization of individual diagnoses and relational problems, its survey of relevant research, and useful case illustrations. This book is well suited as a text for use in clinical, counseling, and family psychology programs, as well as marriage and family therapy programs."--Susan H. McDaniel PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Wynne Center for Family Research, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry"Finally we have a book that provides an avenue to all the research on difficult couples. This is a book that should be on the shelf of every marital and family therapist. Provided are very practical, usable, and up-to-date reviews of all the major problems that are comorbid with marital distress. This book is a real winner!"--John Gottman, PhD, Department of Psychology (Emeritus), University of Washington"I recommend this text as a good review book--ideal for clinicians who want to get a vision of the world of couple therapy, good for experienced therapists who want to reexamine and question the theories and clinical rules we work by, and excellent for researchers seeking themes to investigate in the ample field of couple therapy."--Canadian Journal of Psychiatry"Many reputable American researchers and clinicians have contributed to each of the four sections. Despite their diversity of backgrounds, the editors have ensured consistency in the style and organisation of the material....Treating Difficult Couples is packed with information that could be used to develop one's own analysis, not only regarding the efficacy of couple therapy for a range of problems, but what kind of intervention may be required in particular situations and at what point in treatment it should be applied."--Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy (ANZJFT)"Adding to the value and readability of the book, each of the chapters on clinical conditions follows the same plan of general organization, which represents a very positive approach on the part of the editors....The editors of this book have done a masterful job. The individual chapters are generally well written, free of jargon, scholarly, informative, and a good read....The authors apparently mean this work primarily for practicing therapists but I would go further and recommend it for any mental health professional, or for anyone planning to become a mental health professional."--Psychiatry Services"...what distinguishes this book from others is its conceptual integration of a wide range of mental and physical health problems and their association with dyadic problems. Couples therapists seeking a conceptual framework on integrating dyadic and individual problems with be hard pressed to find a better reference book....it is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to convince granting agencies that the search for novel approaches to improving mental and physical health should be placed squarely in the context of intimite relationships....The editors...have done a superb job of selecting contributors who are experts in both research and clinical practice relevant to their particular area....The book makes a truly substantive contribution to both the fields of couples therapy and psychopathology. From a clinical perspective, the text offers hands-on techniques and case illustrations on ways to educate patients about the extent to which individual problems play a role in exacerbating their relational problems, as well as ways that relationship dysfunction impacts the course of individual psychological problems. All of this information is backed by state-of-the-art research and references for further reading....the book represents one of the most important contributions to our field in the last decade. I recommend this book to both therapists in formation and more senior therapists. Moreover, the chapters on the integration of individual problems and relationship distress would be excellent conceptual reading for a graduate course on couples research."--Couples Research & Therapy Newsletter"This book is versatile and useful for systemically trained therapists and for researchers who wish to understand the connections between individual and relational disorders....This book will be useful to clinicians with all levels of training and experience. Further, it is a must for any clinician working in settings, such as medical facilities, where one is likely to encounter Axis I and II conditions comorbid with dysfunctional relational dynamics."--Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy

Product Description

This essential handbook describes effective treatments for a particularly challenging clinical population: couples struggling with both relationship distress and individual mental health difficulties. Distinguished scientist-practitioners provide detailed accounts of their respective approaches, reviewing conceptual and empirical foundations as well as clinical procedures. Included are well-established treatments for couples in which one or both partners has anxiety, mood disorders, schizophrenia, substance abuse, sexual dysfunction, or physical aggression. Also covered are emerging couple-based approaches to managing personality disorders, PTSD, difficulties related to aging and physical illness, and other problems. Following a standard format to facilitate comparison across treatments, each chapter is illustrated with detailed case material. Provided are powerful insights and tools for couple and family therapists, clinicians providing individual therapy, and students in any mental health discipline.

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