Problems Confronting the Female Therapist Doing Couple Therapy *

This paper describes some of the special problems confronting the female therapist doing couple therapy. They are grouped into four main categories, identified by a specific characteristic of the couple: the passive male, the aggressive male, the submissive female, and the dominant, aggressive female. The dynamics of each problem are delineated and suggestions for dealing with them, in marital as well as sex therapy, are presented. Additional observations are made on the values of using appropriate role modeling, and of forming and shifting supportive alliances, as therapeutic techniques.