Includes study of the multiple forms of intimate relationship across the life-course, and their role in human development and mental health. Emphasizes the interpersonal systems orientation to counseling in which problems and challenges, as well as their amelioration, are constructed and interpreted as experiences of relationship. Critical concepts from the literatures in family development; friendship and social support; marriage and family counseling; social psychology; and community prevention will be used to illustrate the meanings of, and opportunities for, relatedness in contemporary life for the purpose of learning to construct appropriate and empowering social-systemic counseling interventions for all ages of children and adults who are in relationship to each other.