Our primary goal in this book is to build upon the foundation of the first two editions by bringing to the marriage counselor or therapist current information, ideas, and guidelines for use in clinical practice in working with couples. The first edition of the book (1965), edited by the late Richard H. Klemer, was directed primarily to the physician and the medical community as marriage counselor. The second edition (1977), edited by us, appeared as the field of marriage and family therapy was mushrooming and becoming recognized as a distinct mental health profession in its own right. Thus, the focus of the second edition was on interdisciplinary practice of marriage counseling or therapy has established itself as a distinct mental health profession.