Features new and updated assignments and exercises to meet the changing needs of mental health professionals The Couples Therapy Homework Planner, Second Edition provides you with an array of ready-to-use, between-session assignments designed to fit virtually every therapeutic mode.

Wiley PracticePlanners® Series Preface xi Acknowledgments xiii Introduction 1 How to Use This Book 2 Assigning Tasks 3 Debriefing 3 SECTION I------Generic Tasks 6 Exercise I.1 Stacking the Deck 9 Exercise I.2 Personal Pep Talk 12 Exercise I.3 Gray Areas 14 Exercise I.4 Love-O-Meter 16 Exercise I.5 Session Preparation 18 Exercise I.6 Feedback Log 20 Exercise I.7 Learning the Language 24 Exercise I.8 Chart Your Course 26 Exercise I.9 Taking Charge of Change 29 Exercise I.10 Unpack Loaded and Vague Words 32 Exercise I.11 Doing Love and Intimacy 36 Exercise I.12 Track the Problems and Solutions 42 Exercise I.13 Identify and Validate Your Partner’s Feelings and Points of View 44 Exercise I.14 Changing Character Indictments to Action Descriptions 47 Exercise I.15 Identify What Has Worked and Do More of That 50 Exercise I.16 Little Things Mean a Lot 53 Exercise I.17 Keep One Eye on the Road 56 Exercise I.18 Time Travel 58 Exercise I.19 What Is Your Map of Love-Land? 61 Exercise I.20 Acknowledgment 64 Exercise I.21 Catch Your Partner Doing Something Right 66 Exercise I.22 Let Your Partner Know What Behaviors You’d Like 69 Exercise I.23 Just the Facts, Ma’am 71 Exercise I.24 Map the Problem 73 Exercise I.25 Breaking Patterns 76 Exercise I.26 Don’t Get Even, Get Odd 78 Exercise I.27 Change the Context 82 Exercise I.28 Negotiating Impasses 85 Exercise I.29 Go Ape 87 Exercise I.30 Letter to the Problem 90 Exercise I.31 Going Postal Instead of Going Postal 92 Exercise I.32 Lighten Your Load 95 Exercise I.33 Can Do! 97 Exercise I.34 Plant a Tree 99 SECTION II------Generic Issues/Values Conflicts for Couples 101 Exercise II.1 Timeout Handout 102 Exercise II.2 Anger Log 104 Exercise II.3 Setting Boundaries 106 Exercise II.4 Biodots 109 Exercise II.5 Breathing 111 Exercise II.6 Let’s Get Physical 113 Exercise II.7 Value Your Differences 115 Exercise II.8 Accountability 117 Exercise II.9 Restoring Trust and Faith When One Partner Has Betrayed the Relationship 119 Exercise II.10 Inequities 121 Exercise II.11 Feeling Responsible: Who Initiates Things That Need to Be Done 124 Exercise II.12 Intimacy 127 Exercise II.13 Styles of and Motivation for Arguing 129 Exercise II.14 Forgiveness 131 Exercise II.15 Money/Financial Conflicts 134 Exercise II.16 A Common Destination 137 Exercise II.17 Negotiating Socializing Preference Differences 139 Exercise II.18 Creating a Mission 142 SECTION III------Specific Problem Areas for Couples 144 Exercise III.1 Chronic or Unproductive Arguments 145 Exercise III.2 Verbal Abuse 148 Exercise III.3 Boxing Clutter to a TKO 151 Exercise III.4 Separating Work from Home Life 153 Exercise III.5 Planned Spontaneity 155 Exercise III.6 A Safe Place for the Traumatic Memories 158 Exercise III.7 Chronic Lateness from Work 160 Exercise III.8 Set Limits with Consequences 163 Sexual Issues and Problems 165 Exercise III.9 Mix ‘ n’ Match Sexual Menu for Expanding Your Sex Life 166 Exercise III.10 Pleasure Teaching Session 168 Exercise III.11 Dealing with Impotence 170 Exercise III.12 Help for Premature Ejaculation 172 Exercise III.13 Initiation Week 174 Exercise III.14 Lightening Up about Sexuality and Weight Gain 176 Exercise III.15 A Night to Remember 178 Family, Stepfamily, and Parenting Problems 180 Exercise III.16 Wrestling with the Challenging Task of Parenting 181 Exercise III.17 In-Law Problems 184 Exercise III.18 Get a Roommate 187 Exercise III.19 Circle the Wagons 190 SECTION IV------Reproducible Forms and Brochures 192 Suggestions for Making Conversations More Productive 192 Movies about Couples 194 An Appreciative Interview to Celebrate the Anniversary of Your Marriage 201 Interview with My Valentine 203 Appreciative Inquiry Interview Protocol: Life-Giving Relationships 204 Guidelines for Couples’ Communication 206 How to Solve Relationship Problems 208 Creating or Renewing Intimacy 209 Pocket Emergency Guidelines 211 Getting Over an Affair 213 Dealing with a Partner or Spouse with a Chemical Abuse Problem 215 Preventing or Dealing with Violence in a Relationship 218 Solving Sexual Problems 220 Train Your Therapist 223 Relationship Rescue: Ten Methods for Resolving Relationship Crises 225 Dealing with the Death of a Child 228 Generic Assignment Form 229 References 231 About the Downloadable Assignments 233

Contains 71 ready-to-copy homework assignments that can be used to facilitate therapy with couplesHomework assignments and exercises are keyed to the behaviorally based presenting problems from The Couples Psychotherapy Treatment Planner, Second EditionAssignments are available online for quick customization Features new and updated assignments and exercises to meet the changing needs of mental health professionals The Couples Therapy Homework Planner, Second Edition provides you with an array of ready-to-use, between-session assignments designed to fit virtually every therapeutic mode. This easy-to-use sourcebook features: 71 ready-to-copy exercises covering the most common issues encountered by couples in therapy, such as financial conflict, infidelity, work/home role strain, and separation and divorceA quick-reference format—the interactive assignments are grouped by behavioral problems including improving communications, handling parenting problems, and resolving sexual issuesExpert guidance on how and when to make the most efficient use of the exercisesAssignments are cross-referenced to The Couples Psychotherapy Treatment Planner, Second Edition—so you can quickly identify the right exercise for a given situation or problemAll exercises are available online for you to download and customize to suit you and your clients' unique styles and needs