Happy Ever After?: A Practical Guide to Relationship Counselling for Clinical Psychologists

Much relationship counselling today is conducted by generalist psychologists, social workers, and counsellors. Yet there is a strong case for a greater role for clinical psychologists. Accurate assessment during couples therapy is essential, the dynamics between people are complex, and the process is potentially very demanding of clinical skills. This book provides an opportunity to make the argument for greater involvement in relationship counselling by the clinical psychology profession and to guide both clinical students and practitioners toward an informed and integrated approach to relationship counselling, drawing on the best evidence-based treatments.

Dr Bruce Stevens is an Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and convenor of the Clinical Masters Program at the University of Canberra, Australia. He has over 20 years experience with relationship therapy in his private practice at Canberra Clinical and Forensic Psychology and has written a number of books including Regaining Intimacy, Mirror Mirror and Crossfire: How to survive giving expert evidence as a psychologist. Over the last 12 years he has given many workshops for professional development for the Australian Psychological Society.

Dr Malise Arnstein is a clinical psychologist and couple and family therapist in private practice in Canberra, Australia. She was the Director of Canberra Marriage Counselling Service for 6 years and helped establish the Domestic Violence Crisis Service in Canberra. She has provided short courses in couples' and sexual counselling to masters students at both the Australian National University and the University of Canberra, and has served on the Board of Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy for nearly two decades.