Couple Therapy for Depression: Exploring How the Dyadic Adjustment Determines the Therapeutic Alliance in Two Contrasting Cases

Several kinds of marital conflict might be solved through constructive communication, development of interaction skills, and behavioral and thought modification. The aim of this study was to show results of the application of a protocol based on cognitive behavioral couple therapy (CBCT) on dyadic adjustment, marital social skills, depression, and anxiety symptoms. The sample consisted of 32 participants (16 couples) divided in two groups by length of marriage: Group 1 (1–7 years) and Group 2 (8–12 years). All subjects recruited were older than 18 and reported having communication problems in their relationship. The ages were M = 30.4, SD = 4.13. The measures were Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), Beck Depression Inventory–II (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Marital Social Skills Inventory (Inventário de Habilidades Sociais Conjugais [IHSC]), and the Sociodemographic Questionnaire. Participants were assessed pre- and postintervention and had a 6-month follow-up. The intervention consisted of twelve 50-min sessions per couple. Based on three time analyses, both groups obtained the following results: DAS ( p = .001), BDI-II ( p = .000), BAI ( p = .000), and IHSC ( p = .001). We conclude that the CBCT protocol developed for this study, resulted in statistically significant improvements in the couple’s relationship for all variables studied in both groups.

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Enhancing behavioral couple therapy: Addressing the therapeutic alliance, hope, and diversity

Cognitive and Behavioral Practice ◽

10.1016/s1077-7229(05)80045-8 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 102-112 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Shalonda Kelly ◽

Gayle Y. Iwamasa

Keyword(s):

Therapeutic Alliance ◽

Couple Therapy

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Studying Nonverbal Synchrony in Couple Therapy—Observing Implicit Posture and Movement Synchrony

Contemporary Family Therapy ◽

10.1007/s10591-020-09555-5 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Petra Nyman-Salonen ◽

Anu Tourunen ◽

Virpi-Liisa Kykyri ◽

Markku Penttonen ◽

Jukka Kaartinen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Therapeutic Alliance ◽

Couple Therapy ◽

Therapy Process ◽

Joint Effort ◽

Coding Scheme ◽

Movement Synchrony ◽

Almost All ◽

The Relationship ◽

Nonverbal Synchrony

AbstractResearch on nonverbal synchrony (movement coordination) in psychotherapy has recently attracted increased attention. Nonverbal synchrony has been shown to relate to the therapeutic alliance and outcome. However, research on nonverbal synchrony in couple therapy remains scarce. In this study, we examined the therapy process of one couple in detail and created a coding scheme to depict posture and movement synchrony. In this case study, we found that the relationship between nonverbal synchrony and the therapeutic alliance was complex. During the therapy process, the amount of nonverbal synchrony varied, as did the participants’ evaluations of the alliance. In couple therapy nonverbal synchrony could affect both the persons involved in it and the persons observing it. In one of the sessions, almost all the synchronies occurred between the female client and one of the therapists, and all except the female client evaluated the alliance to be weaker. In this case study, there were two therapists present, and the co-therapists’ synchrony was found to be important for the male client’s evaluations of the alliance. When there was more synchrony between the therapists, he evaluated the alliance to be stronger. Interestingly, the co-therapists’ synchrony seemed to peak in sessions that succeeded sessions with a weaker alliance, as if the therapists were implicitly making a joint effort to strengthen the alliance. A short episode from one session is given to illustrate the findings. Our coding scheme enables studying nonverbal synchrony (posture and movement synchrony) in couple therapy and combining the research results to other temporally precise data obtained from the sessions. More research is needed to validate the method.

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The Formation of the Therapeutic Alliance in Couple Therapy

Family Process ◽

10.1111/j.1545-5300.2004.00032.x ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 43 (4) ◽

pp. 425-442 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

Lynne M. Knobloch-Fedders ◽

William M. Pinsof ◽

Barton J. Mann

Keyword(s):

Therapeutic Alliance ◽

Couple Therapy

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Erratum to: The Therapeutic Alliance in Couple Therapy for Depression: Predicting Therapy Progress and Outcome from Assessments of the Alliance by the Patient, the Spouse, and the Therapists

Contemporary Family Therapy ◽

10.1007/s10591-013-9290-2 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 808-808

Author(s):

Ilpo Kuhlman ◽

Asko Tolvanen ◽

Jaakko Seikkula

Keyword(s):

Therapeutic Alliance ◽

Couple Therapy

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Effects of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy on Infertility Self-efficacy, Dyadic Adjustment, and Sexual Satisfaction in Infertile Couples

Journal of Client-centered Nursing Care ◽

10.32598/jccnc.7.1.354.1 ◽

2121 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 43-54

Author(s):

Fatemeh Vazirnia ◽

◽

Javad Karimi ◽

Kourosh Goodarzi ◽

Masoud Sadeghi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Satisfaction ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Couple Therapy ◽

Treatment Plan ◽

Dyadic Adjustment ◽

Reliable Change Index ◽

Statistical Population ◽

The Third ◽

Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy ◽

Infertile Couples

Background: Given the rising rate of infertility, the prevalence of mental health disorders in infertile couples is undeniable. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) on infertility self-efficacy, dyadic adjustment, and sexual satisfaction in infertile couples. Methods: The present single-case experimental study used a multiple-baseline design. The statistical population of the study included all infertile couples referring to infertility centers in Ahvaz City, Iran, in 2019. The research instruments included the Infertility Self-Efficacy Scale (ISE), the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), and the Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire (SSQ). Following a diagnostic interview, 3 couples were selected using the convenience sampling technique. Integrative behavioral couple therapy was conducted in twelve 120-minute sessions for the intervention group. The second couple entered the study in the second session of the first couple; the third couple enrolled the treatment plan in the third session of the first couple and the second session of the second couple. All questionnaires were completed in the first, third, sixth, eighth, and tenth sessions; the study participants were followed up and re-assessed two months later. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS using chart analysis, reliable change index, and significance statistics. Results: The provided IBCT increased infertility self-efficacy (39.04%), dyadic adjustment (25.91%), and sexual satisfaction (55.01%) in infertile couples. Besides, the improvement lasted throughout the follow-up which indicated the effectiveness of IBCT on infertility self-efficiency, dyadic adjustment, and sexual satisfaction in the study subjects. Conclusion: IBCT can be effective in improving personal and marital variables in infertile couples with infertility problems in addition to their marital problems.

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