MARRIAGE & FAMILY COUNSELING

Couples and Family counseling-Diagnosing the Current Approach

And Proposing

A Contemporary Approach to Meet Saudi Culture

By

Abdullah M.S. Matbouly

Faculty of the Graduate School

The American International University (AIU)

Aug, 2010

Acknowledgement

I would like to take this chance for thanking my research facilitator, friends & family for support they provided & their belief in me as well as guidance they provided without that I would have never been able to do this research.

DECLARATION

I, (Your name), would like to declare that all contents included in this dissertation stand for my individual work without any aid, and this dissertation has not been submitted for any examination at academic as well as professional level previously. It is also representing my very own views & not essentially that are associated with university.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

Abstract

In this research we try to explore the notion of counseling in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is marriage and family counseling for couples and its relation with the Saudi Arabian Culture and tries to gauge its effect on the practical implications and probable solutions to the current problems pertaining to marriage and family. Finally the research describes various factors which are responsible for the need of counseling and tries to describe the overall effect of the counseling on the psychology of the involved couples living in a strict religious and cultural context of Saudi Arabia.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgementii

DECLARATIONiii

Abstractiv

Chapter 1: Introduction1

Outline of the Study1

Background of the Research1

Rationale4

Problem Statement4

Aims and Objectives5

Significance of the Study5

Research Questions6

Ethical Concern6

Limitations of the Study8

Chapter 2: Literature Review9

What is counseling?9

What is family counseling?9

Marital and Couple Counseling10

Historical Underpinnings11

Approaches12

Unique Process15

Common Issues16

Challenges17

Diverse Advances of Family Counseling19

Family Developmental Life Cycles and Alternative Families20

Divorced Families20

Single Parent Families21

Family Violence and Physical and Sexual Abuse21

Arab Marriages22

Marital life and the family23

Disadvantages of Early Marriage24

Education and Marriage26

The Redefinition of Women's Roles27

Legal Reforms27

The Economic Burden of Marriage29

Nonconventional Forms of Marriage30

Premarital Counseling Advantages31

How to become a family counselor34

Marriage Counseling Techniques34

Why use Counseling?37

The advantage of Counseling38

Willingness40

Motivation41

Commitment42

What is the true purpose of time?43

Faith43

A counsellor's fundamental principles44

Confidentiality44

Tolerance45

Directing toward change45

Decision-making45

Accuracy45

Recognition of different relationship processes46

Respect46

Empathy46

Tact46

Consent47

Accountability47

Expertise47

Evidence- based47

Legal Issues49

Relationship Issues49

Marriage counseling and Muslims: how it works and challenges Muslims face50

The stages of marriage counseling51

Impact56

Assessment and Diagnosis in Marriage and Family Counseling58

Functions of Assessment in Marriage and Family Counseling59

Examples of Assessments Used In Marriage and Family Counseling62

Bridging Perspectives63

Counselor Training66

Professional and Ethical Issues67

Assessment beyond the Traditional: Being Creatively Functional67

Implications for Counselors70

Theories and therapies pertaining to counseling71

Cognitive71

Behavioral71

Psychoanalytic72

Adlerian72

Person-Centered (Rogerian)73

Gestalt Therapy74

Brief Therapies74

Eclectic Therapy75

Existential theory76

Ten-Step- Counseling model76

Chapter3: Methodology83

Research Design84

Literature Search85

Keywords86

Chapter 4: Discussion and Analysis87

Credentialing90

Ethics90

Premarital Counseling Advantages94

Impact of Marital Conflicts on Children's Mental Health104

The role of therapy108

Chapter 5: Conclusion111

References113

Appendices116

Chapter 1: Introduction

Outline of the Study

This research concentrates on the several facets of Construction Procurement and incorporates the following chapters:

Introduction

Literature Review

Methodology

Discussion and Analysis

Conclusion

Background of the Research

Saudi Arabia is a strict Islamic state. All the laws and regulations in the country are in accordance with the principles of Islam. For this matter, the sexes cannot mingle up with each other before marriage and the man cannot even see his wife-to-be prior to his wedding night. Since Saudi Arabia is an Islamic state, the ...