THE TREATMENT OF MARRIAGE, A PATIENT: Utilizing the principles of Sharp Edge Psychology (SEP) and Marriage Relationship Psychological Contracting (MRPC)

Most people at some point or another battle with their marriage relationships. Many forms of help systems/therapies/books exist in the marketplace today. They are designed to assist with problem analysis, descriptions, problem solving strategies and the like. In my own practice my clients and I have agonized for hours in therapy over diagnosis and problem solving skills/strategies. I have to admit that in most cases zero or very limited success with these have been recorded in my own files. This has caused great concern for me over the past couple of years, and has led to a deeper analysis on my part as to why this was happening. As a primary view point, at the outset, I postulate that the basic conceptualization of a marriage relationship is that it is fundamentally a behavioral contract which incorporates certain privileges, rights and constraints/parameters. The behavioral and emotional contract in a marital relationship is a conscious agreement between husband and wife, that sets terms and conditions for mutual behavior and emotional patterns towards one another, that will lead to growth in the relationship, as well as in the partners individually. This growth is of a psychological nature, and enhances the self-esteem directly. The book therefore does not simply offer just another paradigm of self-help. In fact many of you who read this book will find some of the statements and deductions quite harsh and difficult to assimilate. Most medications/operations are not enjoyable though, but they lead to healing. Many of my clients have now found a simpler understanding of the functioning of their marriages, and have also applied the underlying principles in this book within their marriages with an increasing larger margin of success.