Marital Counselling: The Scientific Way (2)

Last time I recommended the watching of the program Making Couples Happy, which is screening on Thursday nights at 8.30pm (ABC1 Australia, Feb-March 2013). (A book is also available: Making Couples Happy: How Science Can Help Get Relationships Back On Track, for $21-$24.)

It's an entertaining and well-presented program with a number of important aspects of marriage highlighted. However, I have reservations about this approach to marital counselling. I also know that this form of counselling is popular and seems like common-sense to many.

The Pain of Life

Recently1 I have been doing work for my psychology registration and examining what is known as Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT - pronounced as the word, 'ACT') more thoroughly than hitherto I had done. I don't think it has won me over as yet but it's been mentally stimulating.

ACT begins by affirming that life is painful at times and for some, a good deal of the time. ACT not only affirms this fact but ACCEPTS pain as often something that is beyond our control.