This invited paper is a review of the significance of couple relationships to the practice of all therapists. The article begins with a summary of the evidence on the centrality of committed couple relationships to the lives and wellbeing of adults, and the association of the quality of the parents’ couple relationship on the wellbeing of children. We argue that the well-established reciprocal association between individual problems and couple relationship problems means that all therapists need to pay attention to how a couple relationship might be influencing a client's functioning, even if the relationship is not the presenting problem. There is an outline the evolution of current approaches to behavioural couple therapy, and the current state of the art and science of couple therapy. We present an analysis of the evidence for couple therapy as a treatment for relationship distress, as well as couple-based treatments for individual problems. This is followed by a description of the distinctive challenges in working with couples and how to address those challenges, and recommendations about how to address the needs of diverse couple relationships. Finally, we propose some core therapist competencies needed to work effectively with couples.

Jim Crawley is a well-known psychotherapist, trainer and author approaching retirement after more than 40 years of practice. In 1985, Jim interviewed Australian family therapist Margaret Topham in this journal on her career and retirement. Jim is the author or editor of a number of books, including:

• ■ Grant, J. and Crawley, J. (2002). Transference and Projection: Mirrors to the Self. London, Open University Press. (Chinese Edition published 2010).

• ■ Shaw, E. and Crawley, J. (eds.). (2007). Couple Therapy in Australia: issues emerging from practice. Melbourne, PsychOz Publications.

• ■ Crawley, J. and Grant, J. (2008). Couple Therapy: the self in the relationship. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan. (Spanish Edition published 2011)

• ■ Crawley, J. (1998). Couples Therapy: unravelling the strands; Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy; Vol. 19, No. 4.

• ■ Crawley, J. and Grant, J. (2005). Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples and Attachment Theory. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, Vol. 26, No. 2.

All families have attachments; some may be secure, others insecure, and family and marital therapists inevitably have to relate to these. This paper discusses ways in which the therapist can establish a temporary secure base within therapy, which helps families to feel safe enough to explore new ways of relating. The overall aim is to help them to create a more secure family or couple base at home, from which they can explore new solutions during and after therapy. A new school of therapy is not proposed as therapists can also use their own approaches when a secure therapeutic base is established.