Five types of "couple object-relations" seen in couple therapy: implications for theory and practice

The author suggests that there are five types of couples seen in couple therapy. Based on the object relations of each, these are parasitic, symbiotic, narcissistic, sibling, and oedipal. Furthermore, each of these couple object-relations corresponds to the developmental level of a couple, and the couple's developmental level can be, and often is, of more primitive object relations than the actual developmental level of either member of the couple alone (that is, the couple is often greater than the sum of its parts; Mendelsohn, 2009). In addition, every couple-relationship is infused with projective identification (Mendelsohn, 2009), but each is also characterized by its own complex of character defenses, so that every couple-relationship presents with a particular of kind transference and a corresponding countertransference. Some of the theoretical and treatment implications of these transference and countertransference matrices are discussed.