The 5 types of couple therapy

A review of the ways in which psychology approaches couple problems.

Couple relationships are complex. It is not only a matter of loving each other: maintaining a balance between passion, intimacy, and commitmentIt is not just a matter of loving each other: maintaining a balance between passion, intimacy and commitment, communicating adequately and having a relationship that allows both partners to grow and enrich each other's lives involves a great deal of effort. In this context, it is not uncommon that throughout the relationship different types of conflicts may appear that the couple will have to face, and it is possible that sometimes they may not be able to do it on their own.

One alternative available, if there is a desire to improve the situation, is to seek professional help: it may be necessary to go to a professional for couples therapy. However, couple therapy is not something homogeneous that is always carried out in the same way; different schools of thought have developed different approaches that can be more or less useful depending on the problem in question. In this article we will discuss what couple therapy is in general and some types of couple therapy in particular. some of the types of couple therapies that exist..

What is couples therapy?

It receives the name of therapy of couple that type of treatment or procedure that is employed at professional level with the purpose of improving the situation and relationship of a couple in the presence of some type of problem that interferes in its habitual functioning or that is generating suffering for one or both parts.

This type of therapy is very useful for couples with major problems and conflicts or for those seeking to solve minor problems that may affect the relationship.

The most usual thing is that behind the different problems there is some kind of frustration or dissatisfaction. the presence of some kind of frustration or dissatisfaction with some aspect of the relationship, generally with some aspect of the relationship, generally linked to or worsened by a lack of communication.

It is possible that there is no clear demand beyond the presence of relational problems, being one of the main aspects to work on the elucidation of the reason for the dissatisfaction with the aim of finding means to reduce it and introduce changes that allow the resolution of conflicts. However, in other cases the cause of the conflict may be more limited to a specific circumstance, situation or discrepancy.situation or discrepancy.

Some of the main causes that usually lead a couple to go to consultation are usually the appearance of infidelity, problems or absence of communication, poor coexistence, presence of jealousy, emotional dependence, fertility problems, sexual dysfunctions, absence of shared goals or perceived lack of involvement by one of the parties, discrepancies in the education of the offspring, structural discrepancies at the level of hierarchy problems or lack of equity in power or unexpected problems such as the death of a child or the diagnosis or suffering from a chronic or terminal medical illness or mental disorder.

Types of couples therapy according to their paradigm

All of these problems can be observed and treated from many different from very different theoretical and practical perspectives. For example, some of them may focus more on emotional factors or on the feelings of their members while others are based more on the existence of family roles and structures or on more cognitive aspects. All of them are considered couples therapy and all of them have their usefulness in different situations.

Below we will see some of the main types of couple therapy that exist based on the theoretical current from which they are based..

1. Systemic couple therapy

One of the best known types of couple therapy, which also leads to the application of family therapy, is based on the systemic paradigm.

In this case the couple's relationship is seen as an open system in which there is an exchange of roles, norms and relationships. Most of the problems are usually linked to communication problems, failure to capture or express the needs of each partner, or the appearance or maintenance of fixed roles that become dysfunctional. the appearance or maintenance of fixed roles that become dysfunctional and generate suffering. and generators of suffering.

2. Cognitive-behavioral couple therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the most prevalent and recognized therapy today in most facets of psychology. This type of therapy is usually linked to the cognitions, beliefs, expectations and thoughts of each subject.as well as the behaviors derived from them.

Thus, it is usual that under this paradigm we work on divergences in terms of expectations in the relationship, the presence of behaviors that involve suffering for one of the parties. Situations in which there is excessive control or low mutual reinforcement are worked on.

3. Psychodynamic couple therapy

Couple therapy carried out from the psychodynamic perspective usually focuses on the presence of conflicts produced in childhood or early development as a cause of the generation of couple problems in the present. Also The use of defense mechanisms such as the projection on the other of one's own fears or the of one's own fears or the introjection of the other's characteristics into the individual's own self.

Other noteworthy aspects are the high value given to the therapeutic relationship and to the conscious and unconscious fantasies of each of the members of the couple, especially as far as the relationship is concerned.

4. Humanistic couple therapy

Another type of couple therapy, perhaps less known than the previous ones, is based on the humanistic approach. From this approach it is sought that the members of the couple develop and optimize their potentialities, that masks and roles are demolished and that they self-discover themselves. It is considered to be the development of the individuality of each member of the couple that will lead to a stronger union between them.

5. Other types of couples therapy

So far we have talked about different types of couple therapy based on the paradigm from which it is based, but these are not the only ones that exist. We can find within these same paradigms different ways of conceptualizing and conducting therapy.

For example, there is emotion-focused therapy (which seeks to improve the bond through emotional expression and the overcoming of vicious circles of negative emotions) or the integral therapy based on acceptance and commitment to the problematic situation (for example, the suffering of a chronic disorder). There are also therapies more focused on certain aspects of the relationship, such as sex therapy.

Does the therapeutic process fail in case of a breakup?

It would be a mistake to consider that the goal of couple therapy is to avoid breakup in all contexts. Artificially extending the duration of a love relationship does not make sense if it is based on fundamental flaws, and in such cases, couple therapy is a means by which to reach this conclusion and to be able to move on to the breakup without feelings of guilt and "what would have happened if...".

Likewise, it favors that when ending the relationship this is done on the best possible terms. Es, en definitiva, una manera de explorar posibilidades maximizando la probabilidad de que la relación siga en caso de que esta tenga potencial para funcionar.

Referencias bibliográficas:

• Biscotti, O. (2006). Terapia de Pareja: una mirada sistémica. 1a. ed. Buenos Aires: Lumen.
• Christensen, A.; Atkins, D.C.; Yi, J.; Baucom, D.H. & George, W.H. (2006). Couple and individual adjustment for 2 years following a randomized clinical trial comparing traditional versus integrative behavioral couple therapy.J Consult Clin Psychol. 74(6):1180-91.
• Lepore, J. (2010). The rise of marriage therapy, and other dreams of human betterment. Nueva York: The New Yorker.