Couple Distress

Assessment of couple distress shares basic principles of assessing individuals. However, couple assessment differs from individual assessment in that couple assessment strategies focus specifically on relationship processes and the interactions between individuals, provide an opportunity for direct observation of target complaints involving communication and other interpersonal exchanges, and must be sensitive to potential challenges unique to establishing a collaborative alliance when assessing highly distressed or antagonistic partners. This chapter focuses on the assessment of couple distress. It begins with a review of the nature of couple conflict and distress, which is followed by a review of clinical assessment instruments designed for the assessment purposes of (a) determining couple functioning, (b) case conceptualization and treatment planning, and (c) treatment monitoring and evaluation. Recommendations are included for instruments with the greatest scientific support and for assessing couple functioning in a clinically sensitive manner.

Best Practices in Assessment for Couple Therapy

Couple distress is not only highly prevalent but also detrimental to individual emotional, behavioral, and physical well-being. Moreover, relationship problems can impede treatment response for a wide range of psychological disorders. Understanding couple distress requires that assessment extend beyond individual factors to include the broader relational and socioecological context. This chapter describes the multifaceted etiological considerations in couple assessment and provides brief screening measures and methods for the diagnosis of couple distress. Assessment techniques capable of evaluating behavioral, cognitive, and affective components of couple distress are highlighted. The chapter emphasizes the best practices in conceptualizing and assessing couple distress for the purpose of treatment planning and evaluation. Best practice recommendations and potential areas for future research are explicated.