Robi Ludwig

Robi Ludwig is a psychotherapist and host of the reality television program, One Week to Save Your Marriage on TLC and Without Prejudice? on GSN. Dr. Ludwig holds a doctorate in psychology (Psy.D) from the Southern California University for Professional Studies, not to be confused with the University of Southern California (USC); a post-masters certificate in advanced clinical work from Hunter College; a masters degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor's degree in mass communications from Cedar Crest College. Dr. Ludwig is married and the mother of two children. She resides in New York City. She was raised in Chatham, New Jersey. Her father was an executive with a men's consumer products company and her mother a school teacher. She has two sisters. She is the niece of Irv Gikofsky, Mr. G., the New York City weatherman.

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One Week to Save Your Marriage

Each hour-long episode of "One Week to Save Your Marriage" is dedicated to the story of one couple making a last-ditch attempt to save their marriage by working with Dr. Ludwig over a seven day time span. First, closed-circuit television cameras are placed throughout their home, giving Dr. Ludwig—and viewers—full access to their daily lives and an unfiltered inside look into their relationship. Then, after closely observing the couple’s interaction, Dr. Ludwig makes her move to begin repairing their marriage.

After putting each couple through a series of exercises designed to release hidden resentments and re-open the lines of communication, Dr. Ludwig attempts to get the couple to remember why they fell in love with each other in the first place. Through role-reversal and cathartic exercises, Dr. Ludwig teaches the couple to empathize and connect with each other once again. Finally, she forces the couple to confront the reality of divorce, and each episode concludes with Dr. Ludwig asking the ultimate question—whether or not they want to save their marriage.

Without Prejudice?

Without Prejudice? involves five random people deciding which one of five strangers is worthy of $25,000.

The decisions are based on the impressions and opinions of each contestant as made by the panelists. The order goes as follows:

• A 15-second introduction of the contestants is shown to the panel. They then must decide who gets eliminated solely based on who gives off the worst impression.
• A short biography of the contestants is shown, followed by the occupation and annual salary of the contestants. The panel then eliminates a second contestant.
• The three remaining contestants are asked about three "hot button" issues (Such as prostitution, same-sex marriage & adoption and gun control). Then, a hidden camera video is shown with the three contestants interacting with actors whom they believe to be contestants. The third contestant is then eliminated.
• The final two contestants are interviewed by the panel. Any panelist can ask any question, as long as s/he doesn't ask what the winner would do with the money. The panel then votes for a winner.

All questions and comments are allowed, except that the panelists cannot ask any financial questions.

Till Death Do Us Part: Love, Marriage and the Mind of the Killer Spouse

"Till Death Do Us Part: Love, Marriage and the Mind of the Killer Spouse" was Robi Ludwig's first book co-written by Matt Birkbeck with an introduction by Larry King and a foreword by Nancy Grace, published by Atria, March 28, 2006.

Description

Dr. Robi Ludwig teams up with journalist Matt Birkbeck to examine the causes and implications of marital homicide. Their book explores the "underlying darkness inherent in so many marriages" and offer in-depth descriptions of the 10 personality characteristics that may lead to killer spouses. Each chapter begins with a brief overview of the murder personal hallmarks before delving into "case studies." Her thesis is "most of us, whether we admit it or not, sometimes have violent, even homicidal thoughts toward our spouse."

Chapters

1. Why marry?
2. The betrayal/abandonment killer
3. The control killer
4. The sociopathic killer
5. The black widow/profit killer
6. The narcissistic killer
7. The temper tantrum killer
8. The transference killer
9. The revenge killer
10. The pregnancy killer
11. The caregiver killer
12. Thou shalt not kill.

Criticisms and controversies

Professional qualifications

Dr. Ludwig got her doctorate from a program that is a California state approved distance learning school, Southern California University for Professional Studies.

Technique

Those inside and outside the profession have criticized the technique of relationship counseling in the show, which differs from traditional marriage and family therapy. As opposed to looking at the systems of interaction between family members and emphasizing quality family relationships as important factors in psychological health, the program instead focuses on behavior modification therapy — that is, quickly changing a behavior without investing time in discovering the cause of an unwanted behavior and systems in the family that cause it.