Overview

Commitment in Couples Therapy offers a comprehensive clinical guide to help those who work with couples determine the authenticity of a couple’s commitment, and to guide their decision on whether the relationship is worth salvaging. The purpose of this book is to focus on those couples who have joined for reasons that pose a significant chance of relational failure. This specific dyad entails one seemingly “committed” partner and one apparently “less committed” partner, both of whom may be conscious or unconscious about their sabotaging behavior in the relationship. Betchen offers a clinical model to treat the commitment issue and help the couple’s therapist skillfully uncover each partner’s conflict with commitment, determine the couple’s true relational status, and determine how to re-contract the relationship on more authentic grounds. Chapters provide coverage of the unconscious match process, the sociocultural, transactional, familial, and psychological factors behind commitment, and countertransference, with case studies throughout. Finally, this book offers critical assessment and treatment strategies for therapists to implement in their practice. This book is an essential read for mental health clinicians of all levels, and a valuable resource for graduate students in marriage and family therapy programs.

Full Product Details

9781032758091

Table of Contents

Reviews

""Once again, Dr Betchen masterfully refines his Conflict Theory focusing on the specific area of romantic commitment. In this text, he provides the therapist with a formula for assessing and treating romantic commitment conflicts; thus, alleviating the couple’s symptom, and promoting a more durable relationship. Working with Commitment in Couple Therapy is an essential read for therapists at any juncture of practice."" Nancy Gambescia, PhD, former director, post-graduate sex therapy program, council for relationships, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ""Stephen Betchen has made another significant contribution to the couples therapy literature. His insights into couples’ conflict and commitment are certain to enrich the practice of every couples therapist. This is also a must read for those couples experiencing distress and disappointment in their intimate relationship. Betchen’s writing style makes this text accessible to all, and his wealth of knowledge and experience promises to improve the lives of both experienced clinicians and distressed couples. After 40+ years of clinical practice, I still learn from the work of Dr. Betchen. This book will have a prominent place on my bookshelf for many years to come.” Daniel N. Watter, EdD, past-president, the society for sex therapy and research (SSTAR) ""Stephen Betchen’s latest work is like reading a master therapy chef’s favorite couples’ cookbook - one in which the key ingredients of the couple’s lack of commitment are connected to the couple’s shared underlying conflict, which when revealed and treated with Betchen’s model, can ultimately lead to a more durable relationship."" Jay Lappin, MSW, Minuchin Center for the Family, New York, NY

""Once again, Dr Betchen masterfully refines his Conflict Theory focusing on the specific area of romantic commitment. In this text, he provides the therapist with a formula for assessing and treating romantic commitment conflicts; thus, alleviating the couple’s symptom, and promoting a more durable relationship. Commitment in Couples Therapy is an essential read for therapists at any juncture of practice."" Nancy Gambescia, PhD, former director, post-graduate sex therapy program, council for relationships, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ""Stephen Betchen has made another significant contribution to the couples therapy literature. His insights into couples’ conflict and commitment are certain to enrich the practice of every couples therapist. This is also a must read for those couples experiencing distress and disappointment in their intimate relationship. Betchen’s writing style makes this text accessible to all, and his wealth of knowledge and experience promises to improve the lives of both experienced clinicians and distressed couples. After 40+ years of clinical practice, I still learn from the work of Dr. Betchen. This book will have a prominent place on my bookshelf for many years to come.” Daniel N. Watter, EdD, past-president, the society for sex therapy and research (SSTAR) ""Stephen Betchen’s latest work is like reading a master therapy chef’s favorite couples’ cookbook - one in which the key ingredients of the couple’s lack of commitment are connected to the couple’s shared underlying conflict, which when revealed and treated with Betchen’s model, can ultimately lead to a more durable relationship."" Jay Lappin, MSW, Minuchin Center for the Family, New York, NY

Author Information

Stephen J. Betchen, DSW, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a certified sex therapist. He is also an AAMFT Approved Supervisor and AASECT Certified Supervisor. He maintains a private practice in New Jersey specializing in couples and sex therapy.

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