Marriage and Family Therapy

Vittorio Cigoli

The field of marriage and family therapy grew exponentially during the 20th century, to the point that the models of treatment available are numerous. Nevertheless, the key features of the field can be understood through (a) an overview of the alternating dominance of marriage versus family therapy throughout the years and across continents, in the United States and Europe in particular; and (b) a depiction of the present-day scenario of the practice with families and, specifically, with couples. As noted by Broderick and Schrader (1981), the historical origins of marriage and family therapy may be found in the social assistance and family education movements developed in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s. Given the recognition of the importance of marriage and its central role in the life of the entire family, many specialized centers were founded in order to improve marriage and family living. The nature of these ...

Users without subscription are not able to see the full content on this title. Please, subscribe or login to access all content on this website.