This book is a challenge to the silos in our human services that an ‘atomised’ focus gives rise to. They are evident in the chasm that can exist between child and adult mental health care, between competing therapeutic approaches and, most importantly for this volume, in the segmentation of support for adults who are partners as well as parents. The contributors, all with substantial experience of providing front-line services, identify the problem their intervention is designed to address, provide a conceptual justification for the approach they have used and supply evidence for its effectiveness. Vivid illustrations bring the work to life and provide examples of best practice whose relevance can readily be transported to different settings. Unusual in bringing together approaches that encompass internal and external realities in responding to the challenges of physical constraint, emotional distress and an often-volatile social environment, the contributions are assembled to highlight a common thread that can inform services at different stages of the life course. Each chapter is accompanied by a commentary from specialists in their field who elucidate and critique the key points made by the authors and help the experience of reading the book to be one of dialogue. Engaging Couples: New Directions in Therapeutic in Work with Families explores new ways of approaching some of the key issues of contemporary family life, including depression, living with long-term conditions, inter-parental conflict and domestic abuse to name but a few, refracting them through a lens that sees our relationships as fundamental to the fabric of our lives – the most important social capital of all. It represents essential reading for clinicians and family practitioners of all persuasions, and those that train and support them in their work.

This book invites and assists couples to read, discuss, and choose the scriptures that will be proclaimed at their wedding. It also helps couples learn to pray and reflect together on God's word, a practice that will sustain them throughout their married lives. The book presents readings for the rite of marriage, prayers, from the rite, and a brief reflection (with questions for discussion) on each reading and prayer.

Through a series of discussion questions, Alice and Robert Fryling encourage open, honest communication in the light of Scripture. This isn't just a book you read--it's a book you experience. Its interactive style allows you and your future spouse to explore its biblically based counsel and challenging questions together or with a pastor.

Ultimate date ideas for good times and great memories Healthy relationships take effort, time--and fun! This couples bucket list is a compendium of 101 fun, fresh date ideas for you and your partner to connect and build intimacy. Bond through simple, at-home activities like learning a dance routine, or explore more extravagant options like touring ancient ruins. As you spend quality time with each other on your couples bucket list, you'll create lifelong memories, strengthen your connection, and have lots of fun! Make the most of this couples bucket list with: A variety of themes--Get inspired by themes like travel and adventure, fun and games, sex and intimacy, and food, arts, and culture. Tips for great dates--Each date comes with planning tips or modifications, conversation starters, and ideas for communicating in your partner's love language. Expert dating advice--Find advice for every stage of your relationship, whether you've just met or are celebrating decades together. Turn date night into a once-in-a-lifetime experience with this guide to the ultimate couples bucket list!

A “must-read” (The Washington Post) funny and practical guide to help you find, build, and keep the relationship of your dreams. Have you ever looked around and wondered, “Why has everyone found love except me?” You’re not the only one. Great relationships don’t just appear in our lives—they’re the culmination of a series of decisions, including whom to date, how to end it with the wrong person, and when to commit to the right one. But our brains often get in the way. We make poor decisions, which thwart us on our quest to find lasting love. Drawing from years of research, behavioral scientist turned dating coach Logan Ury reveals the hidden forces that cause those mistakes. But awareness on its own doesn’t lead to results. You have to actually change your behavior. Ury shows you how. This “simple-to-use guide” (Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone) focuses on a different decision in each chapter, incorporating insights from behavioral science, original research, and real-life stories. You’ll learn: -What’s holding you back in dating (and how to break the pattern) -What really matters in a long-term partner (and what really doesn’t) -How to overcome the perils of online dating (and make the apps work for you) -How to meet more people in real life (while doing activities you love) -How to make dates fun again (so they stop feeling like job interviews) -Why “the spark” is a myth (but you’ll find love anyway) This “data-driven” (Time), step-by-step guide to relationships, complete with hands-on exercises, is designed to transform your life. How to Not Die Alone will help you find, build, and keep the relationship of your dreams.

Are You Planning a Wedding or Preparing for a Marriage? Like most engaged couples, you’re researching venues, trying on dresses and picking out tuxedos or suits, tasting sample dishes, dreaming of honeymoon destinations, and doing everything to ensure your wedding day is the event of a lifetime. But as more seasoned couples will tell you, there’s more to a marriage than a wedding. A lot more. How do you build a marriage that you’ve dreamed of? Dr. Greg Smalley, vice president of marriage at Focus on the Family, and his wife, Erin, along with 14 marriage experts, serve as your marriage guides as you prepare for life beyond the wedding day. From how to handle those everyday conflicts to how to better connect on a spiritual level, they’ll show you how to get ready for a lifetime of commitment. When the flowers have faded and the last morsel of cake has been eaten, you’ll stand with your new spouse, ready to face life together. Equip yourself for a marriage that lasts by learning: How to leave your parents (while still honoring them) and cleave to your spouse Why spiritual intimacy is key to a lasting relationship Why the language of love is communication (and how to build it) How to manage conflict in a healthy, God-honoring way Why sexual intimacy in your marriage will be the gift that keeps on giving Invest in a marriage that will last for decades. Are you ready?

This book will help practitioners overcome one of the leading challenges in couples therapy: working effectively with the male partner. Men have unique needs and psychological issues that many clinicians may not recognize or know how to address. This volume presents chapters by the leading practitioners associated with current therapeutic models, including Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy, Imago Relationship Therapy, Integrated Behavioral Couple Therapy, and more. Using in-depth case examples, they demonstrate how their approaches can be adapted to be "male-sensitive" and respond to the ambivalence so many men experience about couples work. Special topics are also addressed, including infidelity, cultural diversity, working with veterans, and fathering issues. This book will enrich therapists’ work with couples, making treatment a welcoming experience for both partners and the treatment process more gratifying for the therapist.