COUPLE EXTENDS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT
RELATIONSHIPS NATIONALLY, LOCALLY

	CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Jan. 21 -- Two Charlottesville
psychologists are helping people nationwide deal with their emotions
through a cable television show and interactive World Wide Web site
that premiered this month. 
	Peter L. Sheras, an associate professor in the University of
Virginia's Curry School of Education, and his wife, Phyllis
Koch-Sheras, are serving as psychological commentators for
"Spiritual Homepage," a weekly half-hour program that debuted Jan. 1
on Odyssey, a cable television network offering religious,
values-based family shows.  Each week's program explores a theme,
such as loneliness, intimacy, suffering, prayer and miracles,
through documentaries, interviews with experts and media reviews. 
	Themes are also presented on the series' Web site on the
Internet (http://odysseychannel.com).  Developed as a "virtual TV
web site," the page offers information about guests, upcoming
episodes and resources related to each week's theme.
	Sheras and Koch-Sheras, well-known as authors and therapists
devoted to helping families and couples, worked with the show's
producer, Frank Frost, in creating the series, which has an initial
run of 13 shows.  The programs air locally on channel 43 on Adelphia
cable. 
	As psychological commentators for the series, the
husband-and wife team offers perspectives on issues being addressed
in each show.  On the first show on forgiveness, they explained how
people may experience difficulties if they don't deal with past
hurts.  "We explained the importance of releasing oneself from the
prison of anger and resentment," said Sheras.
	Authors of two books describing how dream analysis can
enhance relationships, the psychologists will also play a prominent
role in a forthcoming show on dreams.  Charlottesville writer Amy
Lemley, Sheras and Koch-Sheras are listed on the Web site as authors
of reference materials on dreams.
	Sheras and Koch-Sheras also began this month a segment on
couples broadcast on WINA radio's "Charlottesville Live" program.
Their segment airs the second and fifth Thursdays of each month. 
###
January 20, 1997
	For more information, contact Sheras at (804) 924-0795,
office; Koch Sheras at (804) 971 4747, office; or (804) 973-3536,
home. Sheras can also be reached via pls@virginia.edu.  Television
reporters should call our TV News Office at (804) 924-7550.