10.1177/1066480704273815THE FAMILY JOURNAL: COUNSELING AND THERAPY FOR COUPLES AND FAMILIES / July 2005Long, Burnett / TEACHING COUPLES COUNSELING ❖ Counselor Training Tea es Counseling: An Integrative Model

Traditionally, training in couples counseling has not received equal status as other counseling modalities. Recently, there is renewed in-terest in specific training for couples counseling as more emphasis is placed on the stability of couple relationships as an important factor for helping families and children function in a society of frequent di-vorce and escalating school-related violence. Similar to group work, couples counseling has emerged as a discipline that combines theo-retical elements and strategies. This article describes teaching cou-ples counseling using an integrative model that is strength-based and solution-focused and helps couples progress through distinct stages and move from the notion of “we have a problem ” to “we have a solution.