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The ongoing evolution of behavioral couples therapy: retrospect and prospect
1Griffith University School of Applied Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Nathan, Australia.
Clinical Psychology Review
|October 21, 1998
Summary
Behavioral couples therapy (BCT) has evolved beyond skills training to include acceptance and personal change. Future developments will address relationship satisfaction, individual vulnerabilities, and environmental stressors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Relationship Science
Background:
- Behavioral couples therapy (BCT) is a long-standing treatment for relationship distress.
- The efficacy of traditional BCT, focused on interactional skills, has limitations.
Observation:
- Current BCT emphasizes skills training to improve couple interactions and satisfaction.
- Evolving BCT incorporates acceptance strategies to manage negative emotional responses.
- Recent developments also focus on promoting self-directed change efforts within individuals.
Findings:
- BCT's conceptual basis has evolved significantly over thirty years.
- New developments aim to enhance the effectiveness of BCT.
- The approach is expanding to include emotional regulation and individual change.
Implications:
- Future BCT will likely integrate deeper understanding of relationship dynamics.
- Consideration of individual vulnerabilities and external environmental stressors will be key.
- Enhanced BCT promises greater efficacy in fostering sustained relationship satisfaction.
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