Therapy Analysis The purpose of this paper is to examine the efficacy of my work as a co-therapist during the fifth conjoint session with the simulated couple; Katy and Michelle. I will discuss our therapy agenda and the goals we hoped to attain during the session. It is prudent to begin by giving a brief outline of the couple’s presenting problem and the patterns of dysfunction that I have identified within their relationship. In my opinion, it is the therapist’s job to recognize patterns and behaviors that disrupt the intimate bond between the partners. It is also important to recognize that it is vital that therapists remain self-aware and avoid judgments based upon their own understanding. This session is my first opportunity to work with a same sex couple and to see therapy unfold over the span of the quarter. I have based my approach on the data that was presented to me through intake forms and viewing prior sessions with the couple. To protect the couple from any negative counter-transference, I filtered my observations through the theories of Gottman’s Married Couple Therapy (2008), Johnson’s Emotionally Focused Therapy (2008) (EFT), and David’s Integrated Model of Couple Therapy (2013a) (ICT). The bulk of this paper will then examine my therapeutic approach, the supporting theoretical concepts, and my strengths and weaknesses as a therapist during the session. The latter will include peer feedback, instructor feedback, and self-critique. This paper will conclude with a brief discussion of the future direction of therapy were I to remain their therapist. Presenting Problem Both Michelle and Katy came to therapy with complaints of an increasing frequency of arguments. These arguments began almost a year ago and, as time p... ... middle of paper ... ...n integrated model of couple therapy. In P. David, Pair bonding & repair: Essays on intimacy & couple therapy (pp.52-64). Class handout from Applied Couple Therapy, Antioch University Seattle. David, P., (2014a, Winter Quarter). Stages of intimacy assessment. Class handout from Applied Couple Therapy. Antioch University Seattle. Gehart, D. (2014). Mastering competencies in family therapy: A practical guide to theories and clinical case documentation. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole. Gottman, J.M., Gottman, J.S., (2008). Gottman Method Couple Therapy. In A. Gurman (Ed.), Clinical handbook of couple therapy (4th ed.) (pp.138-164). New York, NY: Guilford Press. Gurman, A., (Ed.), Clinical handbook of couple therapy (4th ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press. Johnson, S., (2008). Hold me tight: Seven conversations for a lifetime of love. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.
Reading our third take-home case vignette C, reminded me of several ethical and legal issues as a future Marriage and Family therapist, should be aware of. Knowing these rules could help me to avoid making mistakes after graduation and work in a safe atmosphere with clear boundaries in which I have knowledge about my limitation as a therapist. In this paper, I will summarize the issues which I recognized in the Case Vignette C.
DeVault, C., Cohen, T., & Strong, B. (2011). The marriage and family experience: Intimate relationships in a changing society. (11th ed., pgs. 400-426). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth cengage learning.
Daw, Jennifer. “Saving Marriages: How to do it?” American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. 16 June 2005. 16 June 2005
Research of literature depends on the theory or topic one is researching. Research uncovers what the author knows about his or her discipline and its practices. Augustus Napier is a family therapist with vast experience in family therapeutic processes and experiential therapy with couples. In my research of his background, I reviewed his book “The Family Crucible.” In this text, Dr. Napier chronicles the therapeutic process of one fictitious family (which is a composite of real cases) experiencing marital discord. In reviewing the case studies in this book, I gained insight into his style of the therapeutic process, which exposed Dr. Napier’s framework which leads to his assumptions about marriage. The details of this case study coupled with Dr. Napier’s added paragraphs and chapters of analyses with his conclusions on the maladaptive reasons people marry other people make this resource of great qualitative value. Additionally, useful evaluative data revealing a deeper insight into Dr. Napier’s position on irreconcilable differences can be fo...
Szapocznik, J., Schwartz, S. J., Muir, J. A., & Brown, C. H. (2012). Brief strategic family therapy. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 1(2), 134–145.
Morse, Jennifer R. "Marriage & Relationships." The Problem With Living Together. Focus On The Family, 2001. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.
Emotion-focused couples therapy assists in identifying, processing and expressing partners’ emotional experiences within the context of their relationship. Emotions are treated differentially depending on which emotion is expressed and how it functions for both the individual and the couple (Goldman and Greenberg, 2013). Emotion-focused therapy is rooted in attachment theory, using the lense of early relationship bonds to conceptualize the couple’s relational conflict issues. These early relationships influence one’s identity and self-soothing practices (Goldman and Greenberg, 2013). Terminal illness and end-stage cancer can threaten the attachment bond that creates safety and security within couples. Emotion-focused couples therapy has been shown to be effective when working with couples where one partner is facing terminal illness (Tie and Poulsen, 2013) or end-stage cancer (McLean and Nissim, 2007; McLean, Walton, Rodin, Esplen, & Jones, 2013). Partners who are experiencing depression along with marital distress have also improved with emotion-focused couples therapy (McLean and Nissim, 2007), showing rapid recovery with spousal support and compassion (Gurman, 2008). Considering the case of Skyler and Walter, Emotion-focused couples therapy would be the most effective in alleviating their current relational conflicts that are influenced by Walter’s cancer diagnosis, Skyler’s depression, and both partners’ attachment experiences in early life as well as in their relationship.
Emotionally focused therapy is designed to be short-term in structure. Developed principally by Dr. Susan Johnson, the main target of this type of therapy is couples and is focused on expressing emotions. The primary goal of emotionally focused therapy is to create a safe and long-lasting bond between romantic partners and family members while expanding and restructuring significant emotional responses. Partakers in emotionally focused therapy are emboldened to express their thoughts and emotions in a safe environment without fear of judgment. In this paper, we will discuss a therapy session between Sue Johnson and a couple, Leslie and Scott.
Stickley, T. & Freshwater, D. (2006). “The Art of Listening to the Therapeutic Relationship” Journal of Mental health Practice. 9 (5) pp12 - 18.
Nichols, M. P. (2010). Family therapy concepts and methods (9 ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Gottman’s Seven Principles are: Enhance Your Love Maps, Nurture Your Fondness and Admiration, Turn Toward each Other Instead of Away, Let Your Partner Influence You, Solve your Solvable Problems, Overcome Gridlock and Create Shared Meaning. These seven principles are crucial since they emphasize and reinforce positive techniques that can be integrated into the relationship to overcome the difficult stages. According to Gottman, emotional intelligence is the key that can bond couples together eradicating the possibility of a
Miller, Rowland S. Intimate Relationships. 6th Ed. New York; The McGraw- Hill Companies, 2012. Print.
Hanson, Richard R. "Optimizing Marital Success: The Conscious Couple Uniting Process." Humboldt Journal of Social Relations 32.1, TRANSLATIONAL APPLIED SOCIOLOGY (2009): 158-83. JSTOR.Web. 11 May 2014.
Stickley,T. & Freshwater, D. (2006). “The Art of Listening to the Therapeutic Relationship” Journal of Mental health Practice. 9 (5) pp12 - 18.
While looking at Erikson’s psychosocial theory, I can address this client multiple issues with the stages intimacy vs isolation and generativity vs stagnation. Since he is newly divorced, it can be stated that during young adulthood his intimacy issues began with his wife, which drove to the isolation feelings and divorce. He now has to begin