Couple Burnout: Causes and Cures »

In Couple Burnout, Ayala Pines offers a unique model to combat relationship burnout. Drawing from extensive research and years of clinical work, Pines describes the phenomenon of couples burnout; its causes, danger signs and symptoms; and the most effective strategies therapists can use with couples.

Distinguishing burnout from problems caused by clinical depression or other pathologies, Pines combines three major clinical perspectives that are used by couple therapists--psychodynamic, systems and behavioral--with additional approaches that focus attention on the social- psychological perspective and existential perspective to couples' problems. This framework emphasizes the normal process of attrition intimate relationships experience as well as the existential significance people look for in their relationships.

Using dozens of case studies for illustration, Couple Burnout offers detailed instructions for therapists interested in applying this conceptual framework to their work with individuals, couples and couple groups. Issues of gender differences in burnout, of balancing intimate relationships with careers and of burnout in sex are addressed in individual chapters.