Creating Connection

A Relational-Cultural Approach with Couples

Judith V. Jordan, Jon Carlson

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2014
• ISBN:
  9781136302893
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Psychotherapy Counselling
• Index: Psychology

Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT) is developed to accurately address the relational experiences of persons in de-valued cultural groups. As a model, it is ideal for work with couples: it encourages active participation in relationships, fosters the well-being of everyone involved, and acknowledges that we grow through and toward relationships throughout the lifespan. Part and parcel with relationships is the knowledge that, whether intentionally or not, we fail each other, misunderstand each other, and hurt each other, causing an oftentimes enduring disconnect.
This book helps readers understand the pain of disconnect and to use RCT to heal relationships in a variety of settings, including with heterosexual couples, lesbian and gay couples, and mixed race couples. Readers will note a blending of approaches (person-centered, narrative, systems, and feminist theory), all used to change the cultural conditions that can contribute to problems: unequal, sometimes abusive power arrangements, marginalization of groups, and rigid gender, race, and sexuality expectations. Readers will learn to help minimize economic and power disparities and encourage the growth of mutual empathy while looking at a variety of relational challenges, such as parenting, stepfamilies, sexuality, and illness. Polarities of "you vs. me" will be replaced with the healing concept of "us."

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Editor Biographies
• Contributor Biographies
• Series Editor’s Foreword
• 1 Couples Therapy and Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT)
• 2 Relational-Cultural Couple Therapy: From Impasse to Movement
• 3 When 1 + 1 Does Not Equal 2: The Impact of Context on Couples Therapy
• 4 Resilient Relationships: Cultivating the Healing Potential of Couple Stories
• 5 Liberating Voice and Vulnerability: Relational-Cultural Perspectives on Conflict in Mixed Race Couples
• 6 Supporting Relational Growth in a Shifting Cultural Environment: Therapy with Lesbian Couples
• 7 Gay Male Couple Work: The Value of Individual and Group Therapy
• 8 Evolving Sexualities for the Couple: Integrating RCT and the Sexual Health Model
• 9 Strangers in a Strange Land: Men in Relational Couples Therapy
• 10 Motherhood and Marriage: Naming the Work
• 11 A Neurobiological-Relational Approach to Couple Therapy
• 12 Healthy Relationships During Unhealthy Times: Relational-Cultural Theory Group for Partners Facing Cancer
• 13 A Relational-Cultural Perspective of Divorce
• 14 Helping Remarried Couples Survive Stepkids
• 15 Conclusion: The Pain of Disconnection, the Power of Connection
• Index