Exploring the Use of a Self-Help Manual in Marital Counselling

A small self-help manual composed of seven exercises for married couples was produced. Married couples from a Christian community were invited to participate in the use of the manual and to work through the exercises for at least two hours per week. Seven of the couples agreed to be interviewed at the close of the project and to share their experiences, insights and observations. Five of the seven couples reported finding the manual distinctly helpful. One couple found no benefit from the exercises but were sufficiently interested to complete the project. The remaining couple regarded the exercises as largely unhelpful and expressed reservations about their use. The results of this exploratory research suggest that the use of a self-help manual such as the one produced here is beneficial to some married couples. There are, however, limitations. These limitations are explored and discussed, and suggestions for further research are presented.