Steven Harris
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Professor, Couple and Family Therapy Specialization
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I am not accepting new advisees for fall 2026 in the PhD program.
Dr. Harris will be on sabbatical Spring 2025 semester.
- 612-625-1900
- smharris@umn.edu
- Download Curriculum Vitae [PDF]
Areas of interest
Discernment Counseling
Divorce Decision-Making
Family Transitions Associated with Divorce
Marital Separation
PhD, Marriage and Family Therapy, Syracuse University
MA, Marriage and Family Therapy, Syracuse University
BS, Family Sciences, Brigham Young University
Minnesota Couples on the Brink: The mission of the Minnesota Couples on the Brink Project is to develop, disseminate, and evaluate best practices to help couples at high risk for divorce who are uncertain whether to divorce or to try to rebuild their marriage, and to enhance the capacity of therapists, lawyers, clergy, and other professionals to work effectively with these couples. Visit the website to learn more.
Outreach & Engagement
Seven Letters That Will Bring You Closer to Your College Student: Harris co-authored this simple and heartfelt guidebook to help parents connect to their college student. Unlike any other send-your-kid to college book, the authors outline a letter writing exercise that parents follow through their child’s first years of college; the time when parents and children begin to relate to one another more as adult peers than they do as parent and child. Each specifically-themed letter is designed to strengthen and enrich family relationships.
Doherty, W. J. and Harris, S.M. (2022). Relationship-undermining statements by psychotherapists with clients who present with marital or couple problems, Family Process, Volume 61, Issue 3, September 2022. Read the full article.
Harris, S.M., & Wickel, K. (2014). Ethical Guidelines for Conducting Clinical Research in Relationship-Focused Therapy. In L. Johnson & R. Miller (Eds.), Advanced Methods in Family Therapy Research: A Focus on Validity and Change. New York: Routledge. Learn more about the book.
Harris, S. M., & Bean, R. A. (2012). Seven Letters That Will Bring You Closer to Your College Student. Self Published.
Schramm, D. G., Harris, S. M., Whiting, J. B., Hawkins, A. J., Brown, M., & Porter, R. (2013). Economic Costs and Policy Implications Associated with Divorce: Texas as a Case Study. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 54, 1-24. Read the full article.
Szarzynski, A., Porter, R., Whiting, J. B., & Harris, S. M. (2012). Low-Income Mothers in Marriage and Relationship Education: Program Experiences and Beliefs about Marriage and Relationships. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 11, 322-342. Read the full article.
Daire, A.P., Harris, S.M., Carlson, R.G., Munyon, M.D., Rappleyea, D.L., Beverly, M.G., & Hiett, J. (2012). Fruits of Improved Communication: The Experiences of Hispanic Couples in a Relationship Education Program. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 11, 112-129. Read the full article.
Harris, S.M., Adams, M.S., Zubatsky, M., & White, M. (2011). A Caregiver Perspective of How Alzheimer’s and Dementia Related Disorders Affect Couple Intimacy. Aging and Mental Health.
Springer, P., & Harris, S.M. (2010). Attitudes and Beliefs of Marriage and Family Therapists Regarding Psychotropic Drugs and Therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 36, 361-375.
Harris, S. M., Brown, A., Dakin, J. B., Lucas, B., Riley, L., & Bulham, R (2009). Are Case Notes Really That Important? The Dearth of Research and Practice Guidelines in MFT Literature. American Journal of Family Therapy, 37, 373 - 387.
Harris, S. M., & Harriger, D. J. (2009). Sexual Attraction in Conjoint Therapy. American Journal of Family Therapy, 37, 209-216.
Recent News
"Family Social Science faculty and graduate students honored at national conferences," Family Social Science News
"What is discernment counseling," Mary Hanson Show, MCN
"What you need to know about couples therapy," Insider.com
"Marriage and divorce during the pandemic," MPR News with Angela Davis
"Marriage & Divorce amid pandemic: couples challenges abound," AP News
"Your relationships and COVID-19," Minnesota Undergraduate Research Journal (MURJ): In Focus
"How to protect your marriage from becoming another coronavirus victim," Institute for Family Studies blog.
"COVID and Marriage," U of M Alumni Association interview with Jon Ruzek, vice-president of engagement.
Are All Divorces Necessary? via Institute for Family Studies (IFS)
Teaching and Learning
FSOS 4104W Family Psychology
FSOS 8034 Marriage and Family Therapy Supervision
FSOS 8039 Clinical Interventions for Couples
Honors and Awards
2008 Outstanding Service, Twogether in Texas, Texas Healthy Marriage Initiative, Texas Health and Human Services Commission
2005 Meritorious Service Award, Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
1999 Outstanding Instructor, Texas Tech University, Department of Human Development and Family Studies