It is natural for relationships to go through challenges and hardships. Some relationships survive through sheer will and communication, while others may need a mediator or an expert to help rekindle the flame.
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Couples Counseling and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Couples may feel disconnected from each other for various reasons, and constant arguments and conflict may arise from it. One way to mend stressful issues is through therapy, and for a more meaningful and peaceful relationship, CBCT or cognitive behavioral couples therapy is an effective solution. Discover how a trauma background can impact the success or failure of couples therapy here.
CBCT, or cognitive behavioral couples therapy is an evidence-based form of therapy designed to help couples not only identify unhelpful thoughts, behaviors, and emotions but also change those that contribute to relationship distress.
Discover the types of questions asked in a typical couples therapy session here.
CBT aims to focus on the present and provides couples with practical strategies and skills to improve their communication and intimacy, while finding ways to manage conflict and build trust.
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When trauma is present in the relationship, the therapist may choose to incorporate other tools and resources into their practice, with trauma focused information, strategies and hands-on exercises and activities used to build the skills required to better manage and overcome symptoms related to trauma and post traumatic stress disorder. You can find more on our trauma specific tools and worksheets via the link below.
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Who Will Benefit From Cognitive Behavioral Couples Therapy?
Couples struggling with communication:
Couples who struggle to express themselves freely, thus leading to misunderstandings and unhealthy arguments, may find CBT particularly helpful. For more on how ADHD can impact a relationship and couples therapy sessions, check out this blog here.
Couples facing specific challenges such as:
- Jealousy
- Infidelity
- Possessiveness
- Anger management
- Blended family dynamics
- Emotional intimacy problems
- Need for a more robust foundation
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Couples looking to develop and grow:
Couples looking to build stronger emotional intimacy and connection within their relationship will certainly find cognitive behavioral therapy beneficial. Cognitive behavioral couples therapy is helpful for couples at any stage in their relationship and background, just as long as both parties within the relationship are willing to learn and engage in the process.
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What Happens During Cognitive Behavioral Couples Therapy?
While applying the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy and incorporating them into couples therapy setting, the goal is to improve the relationship by addressing both individual and relationship-based issues.
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By identifying patterns of behavior and thoughts that may be causing conflict or dissatisfaction, the couple can then begin to replace these with healthier patterns of behavior. The phases of a typical session can look like.
Identify and acknowledge
Two of the primary goals of CBT for couples are to improve their relationship and build recovery support simultaneously, which can be achieved by creating a proper communication flow between partners. Through cognitive behavioral couples therapy, couples are encouraged to address issues and bridge the gap between acceptance and change.
This form of therapy revolves around the idea that behaviors are influenced partly by their environment. Therefore, as therapists, our job is to work with them to define and set clear statement goals and help both parties communicate their perceptions, especially in moments of conflict.
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Investigate behaviors and triggers
Couples in a high-conflict situation find it challenging to track their partner’s negative behaviors, which typically leads to reciprocation with the same behavior or their negative behavior. This becomes a cycle that would lead to more disagreements in the relationship.
If you're a therapist of counselor working with couples or individuals in CBT, you can find a comprehensive set of questions and ideas for effective therapy sessions here.
Therapists utilize CBT for couples in a way that they work together with the couple to explore and further investigate these certain beliefs and behaviors and the logic behind them. This would make identifying the triggers that lead to conflict and hurt the relationship easier.
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Agree and accept
Ultimately, the critical thing about CBT for couples is to overcome their differences, which often lead to conflict, and find a way to resolve them in a respectful manner.
This therapy will encourage couples to work together to understand each other’s boundaries and solve their problems as a unit.
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