CC17 Topical Panel 02 - Couples vs. Individual Therapy: What Works/What Doesn’t - Ellyn Bader, PhD; Sue Diamond Potts, MA, RCC; and Janis Abrahms Spring, PhD, ABPP

Description:

Couples treatment requires an understanding of interpersonal dynamics. Clinicians need to understand the benefits and liabilities of couples vs. individual therapy, and have a mechanism for deciding when to use each approach.

Educational Objectives:

1. Describe three essential differences between Couples and Individual Treatment.
2. Given a couple describe the decision process for couples vs. individual treatment.
3. List three benefits of Couples Therapy.

*Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality*

Outline:

• Introduction and Background

  • Ellen Bader introduced, recognized for decades of work in couples therapy and activism.
  • Janice joins as the session discussant, focusing on infidelity.
  • Ellen receives a thank-you balloon for her contributions.

• Infidelity as a Crisis

  • Ellen asks audience members to stand if they or clients have experienced infidelity.
  • Stresses the importance of the first therapy session for grounding clients in trauma.
  • Therapists must manage their own biases, emotions, and the couple’s immediate crisis.

• First Session Goals and Challenges

  • Goals: slow impulsive decisions, assess accountability, and create space for pain.
  • Recommends extended first sessions due to emotional intensity.
  • Prepares audience for a case example involving repeated infidelity.

• Case Study: Couple in Crisis

  • Couple: 4 years together, planning engagement, facing the third instance of infidelity.
  • Woman expresses trauma and fear of trusting again.
  • Man struggles to connect emotionally due to unresolved trauma over his father’s suicide.
  • Ellen and Pete facilitate understanding, while Janice highlights the man’s need for curiosity and vigilance.

• Deeper Exploration of Perspectives

  • Woman describes loss of identity and lack of space for her pain.
  • Man reveals his fear of commitment tied to family history.
  • Couple decides to live separately and continue individual therapy.
  • Janice praises the session’s creation of emotional safety.

• Reflections and Broader Impact

  • Ellen reflects on how the first session shapes future therapy outcomes.
  • Shares another case involving a secret long-term affair with a call girl.
  • Emphasizes therapists’ role in holding hope and direction for couples in crisis.
  • Ends by expressing her passion for the complexity of infidelity work.