Couple Power Therapy Psychologists in Independent Practice Leon VandeCreek, Series Editor Treating Patients With Alcohol and Other Drug Problems: An Integrated Approach Robert D. Margolis and Joan E. Zweben Treating Patients With Memories of Abuse: Legal Risk Management Samuel J. Knapp and Leon VandeCreek Treating People With Chronic Disease: A Psychological Guide Carol D. Goodheart and Martha H. Lansing Michal J. Murphy, Series Editor Treating Patients With Neuropsychological Disorders: A Clinician's Guide to Assessment and Referral Jeffery B. Allen Couple Power Therapy: Building Commitment, Cooperation, Communication, and Community in Relationships Peter L. Sheras and Phyllis R. Koch-Sheras Couple Power Therapy Building Commitment, Cooperation, Communication, and Community in Relationships Peter L. Sheras and Phyllis R. Koch-Sheras AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON, DC Copyright © 2006 by the American Psychological Association. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, including, but not limited to, the process of scanning and digitization, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Published by American Psychological Association 750 First Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 www.apa.org To order APA Order Department P.O. Box 92984 Washington, DC 20090-2984 Tel: (800) 374-2721 Direct: (202) 336-5510 Fax: (202) 336-5502 TDD/TTY: (202) 336-6123 Online: www.apa.org/books/ E-mail:
[email protected] In the U.K., Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, copies may be ordered from American Psychological Association 3 Henrietta Street Covent Garden, London WC2E 8LU England Typeset in Palatino by World Composition Services, Inc., Sterling, VA Printer: Book-mart Press, Inc., North Bergen, NJ Cover Designer: Minker Design, Bethesda, MD Technical/Production Editors: Gail B. Munroe and Tiffany L. Klaff The opinions and statements published are the responsibility of the authors, and such opinions and statements do not necessarily represent the policies of the American Psychological Association. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Sheras, Peter L. Couple power therapy : building commitment, cooperation, communication, and community in relationships / Peter L. Sheras and Phyllis R. Koch-Sheras.—1st ed. p. cm.—(Psychologists in independent practice) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-59147-235-0 (alk. paper) 1. Marital psychotherapy. I. Koch-Sheras, Phyllis R. II. Title. III. Series. RC488.5.S489 2005 616.89'1562—dc22 British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A CIP record is available from the British Library. Printed in the United States of America First Edition 2005007444 Contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INTRODUCTION PART I. A NEW PARADIGM FOR RELATIONSHIPS: COUPLE AS AN ENTITY vii 3 17