Cognitive Behavioral Couple Therapy

The primary tool of this therapy is called The Couple’s Dialogue which teaches couples to communicate more effectively. It is structured to create emotional security that is required for people to communicate their insecurities and with one another to ultimately create an empathetic connection (Robbins, 2005). In the study Couples Therapy and Empathy: An Evaluation of the Impact of IRT on Partner Empathy Levels, Gelhert and Schmidt (2016) had adult couples complete twelve 90-minute treatment sessions and assessed them using the interpersonal reactivity index (IRI). The IRI is a self-report measure scored on a Likert scale from 0-4 that asks about the psychological viewpoint of others. Interestingly, the study found that over the course of 12 sessions of IRT, participants in the treatment group showed a steady increase in their empathy scores. These results indicate that focusing on empathy in IRT does affect people on an individual level in addition to empirically proven increases in marital satisfaction (Gelhert & Schmidt, 2016). This, along with other studies have shown that IRT helps people become more empathetic with their counterparts, which in turn could help ADHD couples understand each other more on an interpersonal level as well as help develop copping methods for ADHD symptoms. Additionally, when discussing romantic relationships earlier, it was articulated

Gurman, A. S. (2008). Clinical handbook of couple therapy (4th ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.

During treatment Cognitive-Behavioral Couple Therapy (CBCT) and Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) will use feedback sessions to help assess how the couple is doing in a positive way (Gurman, 2008). Both CBCT and IBCT both use conflict and emotional expressions as avenues for couples to express their affection and understanding for one another (Gurman, 2008). Both CBCT and IBCT also have the same value system of creating a general closeness and intimacy between partners (Gurman, 2008). Regardless of the differences, the two therapies have the general

This paper evaluates the Structural Family Therapy model and its impact on the Emotionally Focused Therapy by Sue Johnson. This paper will discuss the concepts of therapy utilized within the Structural Family Therapy model and how Sue Johnson utilized many of its methods when constructing Emotionally Focused Therapy model. The history of family therapy will be evaluated and the goals of family therapy. Research has proven that due to these clinical practices, families and couples are allowed to evolved issues in which they face into healthy relationships by evaluating patterns in behaviors and past events in their lives. Therapy focuses on the correction of the dysfunctional family as a cohesive unit and does not place focus on the individual. Therefore we find the psychotherapy as a family unit deems to be more effective than previous practices of an isolated session with only the patient and therapist.

Cognitive behavioral therapy partner has focused on the detailed analysis of everyday conflicts that can lead to the breakdown of the relationship; it has been raised how problems arise, and how they are maintained. It has identified a feature which is associated with them generally, a predominance of negative interactions on positive. With the obvious aim of achieving an effective intervention, it has raised the ways to overcome them focusing on increasing the exchange of positive behaviors and improving communication and problem solving.

The largest issue in Gary’s and Brook’s relationship was the communication, or lack thereof, and for this reason a couple’s approach to cognitive behavioral therapy would have benefited for their relationship. A couple’s approach to cognitive behavioral therapy would have been best because it is a direct therapeutic approach that would have assisted Gary and Brook in changing the way they think and thus would change how they feel toward each

Marriage Counseling is one of the best ways to solve marital hitches than working them out alone. Having another opinion, sometimes if the best thing couples need. Robert Bringle and Diane Byers wrote is full detail in “Intentions to Seek Marriage Counseling” about how intentions to seek marriage counseling have many differences and similarities based on the spouse’s attitudes (299-304). Bringle and Byers believe, “Typically, persons seek marriage counseling after they decided to act on perceived need” (Bringle and Byers 299, par. 6). Reese Danley Kilgo, author of “Counseling Couples in Groups: Rationale and Methodology,” describes how counseling in groups is one of the most recent development in psychotherapy and marriage counseling (377). Kilgo believes that “Counseling is the use of this relationship to facilitate problem-solving and to teach interpersonal relationship skills” (377). Knowing more about your spouse can create a better relationship, though the knowledge about their personality. Kilgo states that “Marriage counseling requires couples to have self- understanding and acceptance; problem solving; improve personal relationship and greater happiness overall” (377). One of the major keys to counseling is that the counselor is efficient and that their skills in creating the relationship

When it has been compared to traditional behavioral couple’s therapy (TBCT), it was even shown to be more effective in the long-run (cite that article). An additional strength is in the versatility of this model. In discussing the model, Jacobson and Christensen say that there are “very few prerequisites to a positive outcome with acceptance work” (Jacobson & Christensen, 1996, p. 94). As it is so widely usable, it could be very beneficial for therapists to know and practice as they may be able to apply it to the vast majority of couples seeking

and distressed and they will have difficulty with their emotions. When a couple struggles with connecting and communicating with one another they may be struggling due to their attachment style. When going to couples counseling they can learn skills and techniques to teach them to be emotional available and learn trust and commitment and improve their relationship and happiness.

Behavioral couple therapy (BCT) has been proven to be increasingly effective than individual therapy alone for those struggling with alcohol and drug addiction (Fals-Stewart, O’Farrell, & Birchler, 2004). Those suffering with alcohol or drug addiction typical started to abuse as a mean to cope with psychological, environmental or interpersonal relationship difficulties (Powers, Vedel, Emmelkamp, 2008). Furthermore, BCT has been shown to strength couples and families communication skills more effectively because addicts require all the support they need to main their sobriety (Powers, Vedel, Emmelkamp, 2008). Alcohol and drug problems have been shown to produce marital and family turmoil that eventually leads to thoughts of divorce or damaged relationship (Fals-Stewart, O’Farrell, & Birchler, 2004). Alcohol and drug sobriety is a long and daily process that not only addicts struggle with but family members struggle with how to support their love ones. The entire family unit suffers from addicted behavior in their own way of relapse. The BCT interventions allow for the couples to disengage in negative and destructive behavior that can produce a healthy and long last relationship that could very well be stronger than before addiction came into the picture (Klostermann, Kelley, Mignone, Pusateri & Wills, 2011). The addicts learn ways to maintain abstinence while the family learns techniques to support positive changes in behavior

Gottman method couple therapy or Gottman's Sound Relationship House (SRH) theory (Gottman, 1999) is grounded on years of John Gottman’s research and exploration about what makes marital relationships succeed or fail. The outcomes of these studies reveal that couples with successful

Cognitive-behavioral family therapy provides many strengths for families. It also helps strengthen the relationship between couples that are married. Therapists treating couples who are married use strategies to improve the foundation of their marriage. In cognitive behavioral family therapy couples are taught to express themselves clearly and are taught new behaviors to improve communication and establish a solid union as partners. They are also taught strategies to solve marital problems and ways to maintain positive control. Toggle appreciable family therapy provides a number of treatment interventions for the family to improve their emotional regulation. An example of an intervention is the downward Arrow which helps families Express their feelings and the emotions behind them it allows them to express their emotions and understand them while projecting in a calm manner not leading to recrimination. Nichols 2014 says the greatest shape of behavior therapy is its insistence on its serving what happens and then measuring change 186. The goal of therapy is to help each family member recognize their distortions in thinking and improve and change their behaviors. A weakness of cognitive behavioral therapy is that the emotional state of a client may not be good even though their behavior changes. Nichols (2014) provides a good example of how a mother reports that her son is performing household chores however she feels as though her son does not really want to do the

As a couples and family counselor, I would choose to use CBT as my main approach. One area that I could see myself working as a counselor would be therapy for couples. Ripley and Worthington (2014) discuss an example where a counselor used CBT with a couple experiencing distress in their relationship. Spirituality can be one form of distress in a relationship. I may find myself counseling a couple who come from different spiritual faiths who cannot find any common ground. They may be arguing and failing to communicate on how religion or spirituality plays a role in each of their lives as well as the life that they share. Ripley and Worthington (2014) state that CBT can be helpful as an intervention method when discussing ways to communicate

This paper will examine a critical incident that has taken place in a group on a celebrity reality show called Marriage Boot Camp. The show is based on celebrity couples who are going through a crisis in their relationship, and this is an attempt for them to participate in group therapy to fix the issues. There are several characters on the show, but this will focus on Hank Baskett III who is a former wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings and his wife Kendra Basket who is a former girlfriend and reality star of Hugh Hefner. The couple married after six months of dating in 2009 and had a child within that same year. During these years of marriage, the couple has been on several reality shows broadcasting their life to the world. To the

This essay is intended to evaluate one therapeutic intervention or theory that may be used in Family therapy. The theory being examined is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or for short CBT. The essay will begin with defining CBT and discussing the underlying principles, techniques and concepts of the approach. Some practical examples and scenarios of utilizing CBT will then be explored. Then the essay will proceed to a discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of this therapeutic intervention. Finally a conclusion regarding employing such techniques will be made.