Couples Therapy: Treatment

Treatment

We believe that for most people the strongest predictor of overall life satisfaction is the quality of the person’s central relationship. In addition, “a good and stable relationship buffers against the genetic vulnerability to both medical and psychiatric disorder”. Thus, helping a couple achieve a more satisfying relationship can have widespread and profound influence on their life and lives of those with whom they interact.

 The treatment of each couple is unique and may require a combination of couples therapy, individual therapy, group therapy (particularly self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anony-mous) family therapy and medication management. By using an integrative approach with each couple, the therapist maximizes the chances for success. Identifying goals of treatment will help determine which modalities will be most effective and in what order they need to be applied. Goals most likely attained by em-ploying couples therapy include the following: specification of the interactional problem, recognition of mutual contributions to the problems, clarification of marital boundaries, clarification and specification of each spouse’s needs and desires in the re-lationship, increased communication skills, decreased coercion and blame, and increased differentiation and resolution of mari-tal transference distortions. Final goals of the marital interven-tion may involve resolution of presenting problems, reduction of symptoms, increased intimacy, increased role flexibility, bal-ance of power, clear communication, resolution of conflictual interaction, and improved relations with children and families of origin.

The treatment of couples is often conceived of as a rela-tively brief therapy (though it need not be), usually meeting once weekly, with a focus on the marital interaction. The major indica-tion for marital intervention is the presence of marital conflict but other indications include symptomatic behaviors that impact both parties such as depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse and illness in a child, marital partner, or other family member.