1. Chapter Section Review

2.  Focus on the interaction between people instead of just the person and their own thoughts  See the individual in context of their relationships  Can create new therapeutic relationships to support the patient’s attempts to deal with problems

3.  Parents and children are seen as the client  Not all family members are present at each session  Extended family members can be involved  Uses Family Diagrams to see systemic patterns and intergenerational patterns of interacting  Can support families with chronic illness

4.  Improve communication skills  Understand interactive dynamics  Uncover hidden alliances and dysfunctions  Teach family members the benefits of cooperative interaction  Teach how to listen and express emotions and thoughts  Learn interpersonal boundaries among members

5.  Can occur with any two people who are in any type of relationship.  Can occur at any time – not just for married couples with problems  Pre-marital therapy is couples therapy  Post-marital (divorce and custody issues) is also couples therapy

6.  Improve interpersonal communication skills  Balancing personal and emotional power  Disclosing hidden drives and putting them on the table  Increase bonding and satisfaction  Teaching new ways to interact  Address sexuality and financial issues

7.  Led by 1 or 2 counselors or Self-Help formats  7-10 people in a group meet regularly  Members have common issues  Less expensive than individual therapy  Opportunity to have more feedback  Relationships grow over time  Provides sense of belonging and group identity