Couple Therapy

Catalog description

Advanced Counseling Techniques: Couple Therapy. Multiple theories (traditional and non-traditional) and their application to partnered and married clients from a variety of diverse cultural and socio-economic populations will be presented. Topics will include: couple diversity (including LGBTQ), current research on couples, communication patterns and myths, the effects of stress/trauma on couples, stages of development in securing a couple identity, building successful partnerships, the de-escalation of conflict cycles (including drug and alcohol-induced), differentiation processes, attachment theory and its integration with systems theory, acceptance and change strategies during clinical interventions, and the neurobiology of couple relationships. EFCT, the Gottman Method, and the Developmental Approach to working with couples will be emphasized. Students will formulate theory-based treatment plans in response to specific couple vignettes and will practice couple therapy techniques during role plays. Students will critique clinical cases as presented by a variety of expert couple therapists, will determine a viable approach to use when working with a couple in popular media, and will develop a modified Couple Therapy Handbook as a resource for future practice. This course is restricted to MFT/PCC students in the Counseling Psychology Graduate Program.