Integrative Behavioural Couple Therapy (IBCT)

Integrative Behavioural Couple Therapy (IBCT) is a new approach to couple’s therapy suitable to couples that cohabitate. Since its early development IBCT is fundamentally based on understanding the underlying principles within the relationship. The IBCT model conceptualizes that relationship difficulties occur due to relationship distress due to couple’s repeated and often unsuccessful attempts to deal with differences and difficulties. The couple presented to the session reporting a high degree of conflict in regard to Eric’s role and involvement within discipline within the household and children. Research indicates that stepfamily functioning is optimized when step-parents actively avoid disciplinary roles particularly during the initial

The couple’s scores on the DAS revealed scores of (Eric)115 and (Stephanie) 110 indicating overall increased marital satisfaction among the couple. Their scores on the DASS revealed a shared pattern of mild to moderate stress, with anxiety and depression within the normal ranges. The primary goal of the assessment phase is development of a case formulation and a treatment plan. As mentioned previously, the assessment phase can often identify “themes” that serve to describe the couple’s conflictual behaviours. These themes serve as unifying link among disparate areas of the couple’s

For example, Eric and Stephanie’s relationship began during her marriage to Frank. Although Eric craves acceptance, Ben rejects his advances as he believes that Eric is the source of his parent’s divorce and the breaking up of his “family unit.” Finally, Patterns reflect the patterns of interactions that couples engage within. During the assessment phase, the therapist uncovered an underlying “control-responsibility” where in one partner yearns to gain control over the situation. For example, both Eric and Stephanie complain that they have become more distant and rarely do anything fun with the other. Eric also complains about feeling reject and distant within the family unit. While interactional patterns are meant to solve problems within the relationship often it makes the problems worse. Step-parenting are often viewed by both families and communities as outsiders (Sweeney, 2010) resulting in complexity establishing positive step-child relationships (Ceballo et al.,