What is Cognitive Behavioral Couples Therapy?

It’s not uncommon for us to struggle with challenges and hardships in our relationships. Whether it’s financial challenges or issues caused by miscommunication or a lack thereof, it can be tricky. We can’t always get through it alone, nor can our clients. Some relationships survive based on sheer will and prioritization of communication, while others might require resources, like couples counseling worksheets and a mediator or an expert, like a therapist, to help us rekindle the flame.

In this article, we’ll explore the power of cognitive behavioral couples therapy and what it can provide for your clients. We’ll discuss who can benefit from this, what happens during cognitive behavioral couples therapy, and more. Let’s get into it!

 

Why Do Couples Seek Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

There are many reasons why couples might seek cognitive behavioral therapy. Often, it’s not just because they have exercised every option but more so because of how they feel when they associate with one another. They might feel disconnected, facing constant arguments, or even feel that they experience one conflict after another, no matter how small or big these might be. 

Couples seek therapy due to its benefits because therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) provide opportunities to resolve these stressful issues. To achieve a meaningful, peaceful relationship, many couples need to proceed with CBT as an effective solution. This is especially important when handling couples who may have experienced trauma.

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?

Cognitive behavioral therapy, also known as CBT, is an evidence-based form of therapy that helps couples not only identify unhelpful thoughts, behaviors, and emotions but also help change any that may contribute to relationship distress. There are specific questions that are typically asked in a couples therapy session can help identify some of these particular areas of focus.

CBT and CBT worksheets also aim to focus on the present and provide couples with practical strategies and skills to improve their communication and intimacy. In these sessions, you can also help your clients find ways to manage conflicts more effectively and build trust.  As a therapist, you can incorporate various resources and tools into your practice to assist your clients, especially if they are dealing with trauma.

For those who see clients who have trauma present in their relationships, you may want to incorporate some trauma-focused resources that contain information, strategies, and hands-on exercises and activities. The most important thing is to find resources that actively contribute to skill development, better management, and overcoming of the symptoms experienced due to trauma or even post-traumatic stress disorder.

 

Who Will Benefit from Couples’ Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

There are so many couples that could benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy. For instance, if you see clients who struggle with communication, CBT can be a helpful resource for them to work through some of their challenges. If a couple struggles with expressing themselves freely, multiple misunderstandings, unhealthy arguments, and more, then they may be an ideal candidate for couples’ cognitive behavioral therapy. In some cases, ADHD may also impact the relationship and couple’s interactions, leading to challenges.

Some other challenges that could be rectified using cognitive behavioral therapy include couples who face:

• Jealousy
• Infidelity
• Possessiveness
• Anger management
• Blended family dynamics
• Emotional intimacy issues
• Need for a stronger foundation
• A lack of coping skills

If a couple struggles with this, they may be a prime candidate for CBT therapy. Couples who are also looking to develop and grow might be perfect for CBT therapy because they can spend time building stronger emotional intimacy and a deeper connection within their relationship.

Best of all, CBT is not restricted to couples who have been together for years or those who are new to their relationship. It is readily available for couples at any stage of their journey and with any background—as long as the clients are willing to work on their relationship, learn and engage with each other in the process, and potentially use workbooks designed for couples to cultivate healthy relationships.

What Happens During Couples’ Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

As a therapist, the goal of cognitive behavioral therapy for your clients is to apply the principles of CBT to improve their relationship by addressing both individual and relationship-based issues. You can use CBT worksheets to help guide your session, but for the most part, the steps you’ll take as a therapist to help your clients are relatively the same.

In these sessions, you’ll help your clients identify patterns of behavior and thoughts that may cause conflict and dissatisfaction. Not only that, but you’ll guide them to replace these with healthier patterns. Here are the phases of a typical session for your couples in CBT:

Identify and Acknowledge

These are two of the most important goals for couples in CBT: improving their relationship and building recovery support. As long as there is a strong flow of communication, this can be achieved! In these sessions, you’ll encourage your clients to address issues and bridge the gap between acceptance and change. It is our job as therapists, using CBT worksheets, to help set clear statement goals and to help both parties actively communicate, especially in moments of conflict.

Investigate Behaviors and Triggers

As therapists, we’re also here to help clients understand each other in high-conflict situations. It can be hard to track each other’s negative behaviors, which can lead to reciprocation of the same behavior from the other, creating a cycle that can foster more disagreements. You can use various cognitive behavioral therapy questions to ask clients. By working with your clients and using reacting vs. responding worksheets to help them investigate certain beliefs and behaviors, they can understand the logic and identify triggers to help heal the relationship.

 

Agree and Accept

The final phase you will likely guide your clients through in CBT sessions is agree and accept. This is when your couples overcome their differences, accept one another, and find ways to resolve conflicts more respectfully and healthily. Once your clients work through this stage with the assistance of relationship values worksheets and your guidance, they work together to understand each other’s boundaries and solve problems together rather than apart.

 

Upgrade Your Professional Support with CBT Worksheets for Couples

Using CBT for couples, you can help your clients enjoy healthier, more respectful interactions while overcoming conflicts and miscommunication. Our range of CBT worksheets provides support for your sessions, including comprehensive and expert-verified information, strategies, exercises, and activities that teach clients how to build healthy habits and eliminate negative thought patterns.