The Challenge of Marriage

by Rudolf Dreikurs

The third edition of this text provides a thorough discussion of the rationale for using group counselling, looks at the differing approaches of each author to group counselling, outlines practical suggestions on the skills needed for effective facilitations of groups, and gives guidelines for forming a group and solutions to common problems. In addition the authors place much emphasis on concerns specific to working with children and concerns specific to working with the elderly.

300 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Rudolf Dreikurs was an Austrian psychiatrist and educator. He emigrated to the United States in 1937, in order to escape Nazi persecution, because of his jewish background. Dreikurs became a professor of psychiatry at the Chicago Medical School in 1942.

Reviews

[Sadie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book at the end of my own marriage. It was strangely therapeutic. Although it's quite dated in many ways, I felt that it gave me a strong insight into the dynamics between couples-- why we feel attraction to someone and how that attraction links to our personal way of being in the world (lifestyle, to my Adlerian friends), our sense of place and worth, and how that link can also create the deepest conflicts in our relationships.

I feel that what I learned from this book helped me figure out what my marriage meant to me, which strengthened me when I was trying to reconcile and also strengthened me when I made the decision-- the right decision-- to stop trying. It's not a small thing to understand why your marriage ended. It's empowering and allows you to feel empathy for your spouse even while you hold your boundaries.

[Jon Vanderheyden]

originally published in 1946

[Rebecca Nolan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was really pissing me off. The author, whether he is one or not, sounds like a sexist. I got so tired of hearing about if I want to look attractive then I am willing to be the inferior sex. I am for equality btwn sexes but not that I think men and women can and should do everything equally, more in the sense that men and women should utilize their capabilities to the best of their ability and their partner should do the same in which a natural fill for the gaps are served. But once I read that arbhoring my menstrual cycle is to Dreikurs an indication that I loathe my womamhood and wish to be the superior male sex, I couldn't go on any further. I then checked the copyright and realized it was published back in 1946 which simmered me down with a better understanding of where the author was coming from. I don't recommend this book as I attribute the foundations for his opinion to be extremely outdated.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

good analysis of the dynamic of couples--not just married ones. when my friends have relationship problems, this is my reference book before i give any advice.