Relationship Enhancement Therapy: Healing Through Deep Empathy and Intimate Dialogue

Relationship Enhancement Therapy: Healing Through Deep Empathy and Intimate Dialogue
Robert F. Scuka | 2005-05-28 00:00:00 | Routledge | 368 | Mental Health
Relationship Enhancement Therapy (RE) is a couples-therapy system conceived of, designed, and first implemented by Bernard Guerney Jr., who integrated the client-centered theory of Carl Rogers, the interpersonal theory of Henry Stack Sullivan, the behavior modification and learning theories of Skinner and Bandura, and the psychodynamic theory of Freud, in formulating RE. In this book Dr. Scuka presents an up-to-date, comprehensive theoretical and practical treatment of RE, in which he gives the reader a guide to implementing the principles of this dynamic theory. The book is written principally with couples therapy in mind, although there is an acknowledged relevance to family therapy, and the author calls attention the many skills and therapy techniques that would be applicable to family therapy. Though designed to allow a therapist of any level of experience to begin working with the RE model, this book is more than a standard cookbook, as it considers a variety of special RE therapy techniques, discusses the entire clinical intake process, the application of the RE model to the treatment of affairs, use with difficult clients, and family therapy issues such as domestic violence and stepfamilies.
Reviews
This book is based on the well researched Relationship Enhancement (RE) model, which has roots in Rogerian, behavioral, psychodynamic and interpersonal studies and theories and which was conceived by psychologist Bernard Guerney.



Books for couples' therapists tend to be one of two varieties: lists of "cookbook" interventions with minimal conceptual or research underpinnings or conceptual treatises which are difficult to translate into actual practice.



Rob Scuka's Relationship Enhancement Therapy manages to articulate both rationale and techniques for interventions in a clear and concise manner. Indeed, Scuka has seemed to anticipate almost any eventuality that can transpire in a couples session and provides guidance as to how to handle each effectively. Clinical vignettes are both illustrative and engaging. Perhaps his most useful skill is his ability to draw the reader into the mind of the strategizing therapist.



As a clinical psychologist and couples therapist with over 20 years experience, I have never found a more useful guide than this.


Reviews
I owned Relationship Enhancement Therapy over a month prior to attending my first RE Therapist's Training conducted by Dr. Scuka. The training is exceptional, and certainly served to reinforce what I had already garnered from his book. Scuka's book presents a review of evaluative research on RE substantiating its effectiveness, and challenges some current arguments questioning the value of communication/conflict skills training in therapy. His work detailing RE applications in cases of domestic violence provides a very thorough and well balanced discussion for assessing the best interests of victims within a couples' intervention model. I found the book to be both very cogent in presenting the RE Therapy Model and very illustrative in its clinical applications, which should be of value for both the novice or experienced clinician. He presents excellent case studies to guide the reader, and tackles in a single chapter what for most clinicians is one of the most complicating of couple traumas, infidelity. Dr. Scuka's writing style and his efforts throughout his multiple case studies, to open his own self-dialogue to the reader, afforded me ample opportunity to feel as if I were in his clinical office working to apply RE right along with him and his clients.
Reviews
An excellent resource book for the mental health practitioner new to Relationship Enhancement Therapy or someone who has had training and needs a refresher or guide. Dr. Scuka presents a thorough, practical, and comprehensive explanation of how to conduct Relationship Enhancement Therapy with chapters describing the underlying philosophy, theory and evidence. Clinical vignettes are also included which bring the material alive.
Reviews
This is a good book for those who are famililar with RE and can use it as an excellent reference. For those wanting to learn RE with couples, take one of Scuka's excellent classes first. This is not an introductory work.

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