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Book

In Quest of the Mythical Mate

A Developmental Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment in Couples Therapy

Author:
Ellyn Bader, PhD
Copyright:
2026
Publication Date:
Oct 28, 2026
Publisher:
Routledge
Product Code:
SAM180850
ISBN13:
9781041287810
Format:
Paperback
Number of Pages:
280
Media Type:
Book

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Description

Written by pioneers in the field of couples therapy, the classic edition of In Quest of the Mythical Mate presents Dr. Ellyn Bader and Dr. Peter Pearson's methodology for analyzing how couples' relationships develop and grow over time. They provide practical intervention strategies that promote both individual development and relationship strengthening. Originally published in 1988, this foundational couples therapy text introduces the Developmental Model of Couples Therapy (also known as the Bader-Pearson Model). It provides a structured yet flexible approach to understanding and treating relationship issues. It offers practical diagnostic tools and treatment strategies that therapists can use with couples in distress including questionnaires, innovative assessment techniques, and specific therapeutic interventions. This essential book is intended for marriage and family therapists, psychologists, counselors, and other mental health professionals who treat couples.

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Ellyn Bader, PhD's Profile

Ellyn Bader, PhD Related seminars and products

The Couples Institute


Ellyn Bader, PhD, is in private practice and is co-director of The Couples Institute in Menlo Park, California. Over the past 25 years she has conducted professional training programs in couples therapy and has trained therapists throughout the United States as well as Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia. She is a past president of the International Transactional Analysis Association and a recipient of the Clark Vincent Award for an outstanding literary contribution to the field of marital therapy from the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. Dr. Bader is frequently invited to speak at national and international conferences. She and her husband, Peter Pearson, PhD, coauthored the books, In Quest of the Mythical Mate: A Developmental Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment in Couples Therapy (Brunner/Mazel) and Tell Me No Lies: How to Face the Truth and Build an Honest Marriage (St. Martin’s Press).

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Ellyn Bader is the founder and CEO of The Couples Institute, the co-creator of The Developmental Model of Couples Therapy, and receives compensation as a consultant. She receives royalties as a published author. Ellyn Bader receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Ellyn Bader is a member of the American Psychological Association, the International Transactional Analysis Association, and the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.


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