1135454388

9781135454388

158391076X

9780203890325

9781583910764

Building Intimate Relationships is an invaluable guide filled with practibal tools, concepts, and exercises to help couples enhance intimacy and develop and maintain healthy, successful relationships. Based on the world-renowned PAIRS (Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills) program, this book is designed to educate mental health professionals about the program and its adaptations. The PAIRS program goes beyond the usual conceptions of listening and probmem solving, emphasizing emotional and physical connections. PAIRS acts as a kind of bridge between marriage education and couples therapy that is beneficial to couples in healthy relationships hoping to improve intimacy and to distressed couples trying to save their marriage. In this book, the most experienced PAIRS leaders together with the creator of the program present the framework of PAIRS along with proven exercises and techniques to enhance a intimacy between couples. Chapters include discussions of intimacy, communication,

Conflict resolution, "emotional literacy," sensuality and sexuality, spirituality, and gender issues. An exciting and innovative approach to helping couples rekindle the sparks of love that brought them together in the first place, Building Intimate Relationships is an essential read for every couples therapy student and counselor.

Foreword / Mo Therese Hannah

Preface / Diane Sollee

Introduction to PAIRS / Rita DeMaria

The PAIRS Program in Context

An Overview of the PAIRS Program / Rita DeMaria

The Saga of the Development of PAIRS / Lori H. Gordon

The Voices of the PAIRS Leaders / Barbara Bogartz

The PAIRS Program: Through the Voices of the Leaders

The PAIRS Relationship Road Map / Robin Temple

Emotional Literacy and Healthy Relationships / Ann Ladd

Communication and Conflict Resolution / J. Thomas DeVoge, Joyce B. DeVoge

PAIRS and Family Systems / Bonnie Gordon-Rabinowitz, Marc D. Rabinowitz

Bonding and Emotional Literacy / Carlos Durana

Sensuality and Sexuality / Don Adams, Don Azevedo

Contracting: Clarifying Expectations / Ellen B. Purcell

Spirituality and the PAIRS Program / Teresa Adams

PAIRS Research / Carlos Durana

Special Populations and Adaptations

Stepfamilies / Bill, Linda Wing

PEERS: Programs for Youth / Seth Eisenberg

PAIRS Short Programs / Kelly Simpson

Practical Realities

Exploring Gender Issues in the PAIRS Program / Elaine Braff

PAIRS: Health and Wellness-Preliminary Considerations / Christine Hibbard, David Hibbard

Ethics / J. Thomas DeVoge

Epilogue: Spiritual Partnership / Rabbi Morris Gordon

Closing / Rabbi Morris Gordon.