Common Factors in Couple and Family Therapy: The Overlooked Foundation for Effective Practice

Douglas H. Sprenkle, PhD, until his death in 2018, was Professor Emeritus at Purdue University, where he was developer and former Director of the Doctoral Program in Marriage and Family Therapy Dr. Sprenkle was past Editor of the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy and the author or editor of over 130 scholarly articles and books. He received the Osborne Award from the National Council on Family Relations, which is given biannually for outstanding teaching, and the Outstanding Contribution to Marriage and Family Therapy Award, the Cumulative Career Contribution to Marriage and Family Therapy Research Award, and the Training Award from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Dr. Sprenkle also won the Award for Significant Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice from the American Family Therapy Academy.Sean D. Davis, PhD, LMFT, is Associate Professor at the Couple and Family Therapy Program at Alliant International University's campus in Sacramento, California, as well as an approved supervisor and clinical member of the AAMFT. Dr. Davis also serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. His research, clinical, and teaching interests focus on common factors and bridging the scientist-practitioner gap in marriage and family therapy. His dissertation on common factors won the AAMFT Graduate Student Research Award and the AAMFT Dissertation Award. Dr. Davis has published several journal articles and books, including, most recently, What Makes Couples Therapy Work? and The Family Therapy Treatment Planner, Second Edition (with Frank M. Dattilio and Arthur Jongsma), and maintains a private practice.Jay L. Lebow, PhD, is Clinical Professor of Psychology at the Family Institute at Northwestern University. He has conducted clinical practice, supervision, and research on couple and family therapy for over 30 years. He is board certified in family psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology and is an approved supervisor of the AAMFT. Dr. Lebow is the author of 100 book chapters and articles, most of which focus on the interface of research and practice and the practice of integrative couple and family therapy. His published books include Research for the Psychotherapist and four edited volumes, including the Handbook of Clinical Family Therapy. He is a past president of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association and is involved in the Family Institute's Psychotherapy Change Project. Dr. Lebow is the current editor of Family Process.