The High-Conflict Couple

November 15, 2006
High-conflict relationships are the subject of these works, which each take a different approach to this growing problem. Fruzzetti (psychology, director, DBT Therapy & Research Prog., Univ. of Nevada, Reno; coauthor, "Dialectical Behavior Therapy" [DBT] "with Couples and Families") presents solid advice for couples wanting to take an active role in improving their relationship. His information is based jointly on the principles of DBT, a treatment for emotion dysregulation (inappropriate emotional response) developed by Marsha M. Linehan, who wrote the foreword, as well as on the established principles of healthy couple and family interaction and intervention developed by other professionals working in couples therapy. Fruzzetti includes practical, step-by-step exercises designed to help high-conflict couples build a stronger partnership while acknowledging areas that need work. In addition, he makes clear that his material is not intended to be the sole learning tool for relationships that include physical or sexual aggression or violence, referring the abused partner to local crisis services.

Forensic psychologist Gaulier (director, Court Psychological Clinic, Oakland Cty., MI), clinical psychologist Judith Margerum (codirector, Michigan Family Inst.), Jerome A. Price (director & founder, Michigan Family Inst.; "Power and Compassion"), and James Windell (circuit court psychologist, Oakland Cty., MI) share insights gained from their experience implementing the After DivorceEffective Parenting Together (ADEPT) treatment program. ADEPT was created to help the Sixth Circuit Court Family Division as it struggled to manage the many intractable couples who consumed much of the court's time and energy. This marvelous guide, which adds to the publisher's established "Practical Therapist" series, is organized around major sections that address the fundamental issue of why people have high-conflict divorces, patterns of dysfunction in high-conflict divorces, understanding the legal and mental health context of the problem, and the most critical section, successful interventions that teach therapeutic professionals how best to get involved and assist those caught up in the rancor of difficult divorces. While both works contain information of value to couples involved in high-conflict relationships, the work by Gaulier and his colleagues more aptly serves academic libraries supporting the helping professions. Fruzzetti's focused use of the specialized dialectical behavior therapy makes his book unique in the couples-therapy field and recommends it for larger public libraries.Dale Farris, Groves, TX

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.