Innovative Skills to Increase Cohesion and Communication in Couples

Julie Anne Laser-Maira, PhD, LCSW, MSW, is both a clinician of experiential therapy and Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver. Additionally, she researches the efficacy of experiential therapy in hopes of increasing its stature as a mainstream clinical intervention for children, youth, families, and couples. Laser-Maira's clinical expertise is in working with military families, PTSD and trauma-focused therapy, parenting issues, child and adolescent healthy development, couples therapy, adolescent substance abuse, human trafficking victims, and well-being throughout the life cycle. Laser-Maira's overarching research focus is on resiliency, particularly the relevance of specific ecological and internal protective and risk factors by culture and gender.Nicole Nicotera, PhD, LICSW, MSW, is Professor in the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver. She coordinates clinical skills training and mind-body courses for the MSW program and teaches mixed methods research for the PhD program. Nicotera's research foci include promoting well-being across the life span, trauma-informed mindfulness practices, and civic engagement. Her clinical practice experience spans work with youth and families, including experiential therapy with youth, family-youth groups, and couples.

• Chapter 1. Couples Clinical Theories OverviewChapter 2. Healthy SexualityChapter 3. InfidelityChapter 4. Mind-Body Connections and Mindfulness in CouplesChapter 5. Experiential Therapy with CouplesChapter 6. Horticulture/Agricultural Therapy (HAT) with CouplesChapter 7. Raising Issues of Power and Privilege in Couples Therapy [guest author: Lynn Parker]Chapter 8. Narrative Therapy: The Story of UsChapter 9. Concluding Words: Couple Resiliency and Celebrations

It's astounding how little pragmatic training therapists receive regarding the nuts and bolts of helping couples create healthy, loving, passionate relationships and mend ones that are faltering. At long last, authors Laser-Maira and Nicotera are out to change all that with their down-to-earth, must-read book that is chock-full of concrete information about what really works in couples therapy. Also refreshing is the authors' willingness to tackle essential-but-overlooked topics facing couples therapists such as infidelity, sexuality, and non-traditional relationships. Bravo!