"Couples can make significant progress toward resolving their own problems when they receive appropriate guidance from a caring person. This book outlines five tasks focused on identity, agency, and meaning that spiritual caregivers can use to empower couples for significant change in just three to five conversations. Critically integrating desert spiritual theology with empirical data about successful marriages, Bidwell advocates for mutuality and partnership within covenanted relationships, which allows partners to create an alliance strong enough to resist the forces that threaten relationships£especially the negative influences of criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and withdrawal. Pastors who adopt the approach outlined in the text will 'travel lightly' in terms of pastoral power, decentering themselves so that couples can identify and build on their unique strengths and relationship with the divine."--Publisher description.
- ISBN10 1451426240
- ISBN13 9781451426243
- Publish Date 1 February 2013
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Fortress Press
- Format eBook
- Pages 144
- Language English