title: Close relationships research: a resource for couple and family therapists.
abstract: This article describes the relatively new field of close relationships research, offering a representative list of topics studied by relationship researchers. Some of the common interests shared by both close relationships researchers and couple and family therapists are described, with the shared emphasis on relationships as an anchor for both fields. Some representative love theories are discussed, and Love Styles theory and research are presented in considerable detail. A clinical case example indicates how love styles research may be employed to advantage by couple therapists, and the utility of other close relationships theories and measures for therapy is briefly discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409-2051, USA. susan.hendrick@ttu.edu
authors.forename: Susan S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hendrick
mesh_terms: D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008388:Marital Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors