Marriage in Crisis

Alice V. Graubart, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

1140 Lake Street, #504

Oak Park. Illinois 60301-1051

708-524-1474
This presentation will be organized into three parts, so that participants have a foundation and context to the interventions that will make up the last half of the session

First, we'll look at the state of marriage nationally. Are we really :n a state of crisis? Is perhaps the nature of marriage changing and we're living through the transition? What do the divorce statistics actually mean? What is the "Marriage Movement" and what are they doing? What's the role of marriage education

Second, we're briefly going to look at the marital research that's going on now (and has been for the last 25 years), focusing on John Gottman's work, since he's known as the most prolific marriage researcher in the world (115 publications, 13 books). We'll talk about his "love lab," we'll look at a few of his findings and his major theory, known as "evidence-based research." and see what we can learn about marital satisfaction.

The rest of the session. will be devoted to counseling couples (sometimes one member of a couple) within a crisis context. There are several brief methods of counseling that help some couples to overcome marital crisis and get their marriage on more solid footing. We'll look concretely at some of these options, and hopefully if there's time, we'll practice one of these methods, too'

A few facts:

Most couples come for counseling six years or more after the dissatisfaction has started

The "seven-year itch" is real. Couples experience dissatisfaction in 7 year multiple cycles.

The "newest" large group of divorces is among couples who have been married 25 years or more

There will be handouts available at the session and in the area that Convening 's reserved for handouts. Some of the above methods do require specific advanced training, and I will always be available to help you find the best training for your needs.

One caveat--All of the researchers. gurus, and therapists say very directly that if one (or both) spouse(s) is physically abusive (cannot stop themselves), these methods are not likely to work. If your couples have substance abuse issues and/or are physically violent, please refer them to an appropriate treatment center and/or shelter.