Couple Power Therapy: Building Commitment, Cooperation, Communication, and Community in Relationships (Psychologists in Independent Practice Books)

Veteran couples therapists Drs. Sheras and Koch-Sheras introduce an exciting new approach in which partners co-create a unified vision for their relationship. By using the "4 Cs" in this order: commitment, cooperation, communication, and community, any couple can transcend their individual identities to nurture "the couple as entity," in effect, crafting a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Positive, solution-oriented, and packed with exercises and illustrative case studies, this innovative book is an indispensable resource for therapists seeking to empower their clients and equip them with the progressive and practical tools necessary for healthy, long-lasting partnerships. "In Couple power therapy: Building commitment, cooperation, communication, and community in relationships, Sheras and Koch-Sheras introduce the Couple Power Therapy model, an exciting new approach in which partners co-create a unified vision for their relationship. These seasoned couples therapists use a series of sequential tasks to teach the partners how to transcend their individual identities to nurture "the couple as entity," in effect, crafting a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. This shifts the paradigm away from the therapist's responsibility for success to the couple's responsibility, from the more negative emphasis of focusing on problems to a more positive goal of creating a fulfilling relationship, and from a quick fix to lifelong development skills. At the heart of this model are four basic tasks that the couple entity must address: commitment, cooperation, communication, and community. Making progress in each of these areas is necessary for a successful, resilient, and long-lasting partnership to exist over time. The success of the couple and of couples therapy is a matter of focusing on these tasks, creating a structure to accomplish them, and building in ongoing work and maintenance. The Couple Power Therapy model can be applied to a variety of other relationships and settings, both personal and professional--including businesses and organizations, parents and children, siblings, friends, and larger communities"--Jacket. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved) Annotation Veteran couples therapists Drs. Sheras and Koch-Sheras introduce an exciting new approach in which partners co-create a unified vision for their relationship. By using the?4 Cs? in this order: commitment, cooperation, communication, and community, any couple can transcend their individual identities to nurture?the couple as entity,? in effect, crafting a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Positive, solution-oriented, and packed with exercises and illustrative case studies, this innovative book is an indispensable resource for therapists seeking to empower their clients and equip them with the progressive and practical tools necessary for healthy, long-lasting partnerships