Couple Therapy

Recommended Prerequisites

It is recommended to attend with approval the following courses of the 1st cycle of studies: Family Psychology (optional) and Clinical and Health Psychology. The student should have good knowledge of English language (reading) considering that many bibliographical references are in English.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical-practical teaching using expository methods, discussion of specific readings and clinical materials (e.g. vignettes, videos) articulated with active methods (e.g., role-playing, sculptures) for training the application of techniques.

Learning Outcomes

 The objectives of the uc, of theoretical and practical teaching, are the acquisition of skills in understanding the couple system and intervention with couples, through training and critical reflection.

Skills:

- To recognize the specificities of this modality of family therapy, in terms of the comprehensive readings of conjugality and clinical intervention

- To recognize the importance of the stage in the couple's life cycle for understanding marital dysfunctioning

- To identify issues of psychopathology in the couple

- To develop skills for clinical assessment of marital functioning

- To be familiar with instruments of clinical and empirical evaluation of conjugality

- To be familiar with the classic and post modern models of couple therapy

- To be able to guide a therapy session with the couple, applying an appropriate protocol

- To recognize specific areas of intervention in couple therapy

- To recognize the particularities of sexuality aspects in couple therapy

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Introduction

1. The Couple: a) definitions (evolution, complexity, paradoxes); b) conjugality and diversity; c) the couple's life cycle; d) resilience and vulnerabilities, protection factors/risks of conjugality.

2. Assessment of conjugality: a) clinical Interview; b) quantitative methods (clinical use/investigation); c) relevant empirical research.

3. Psychopathology in the couple and the communication distortions.

4. Couple Therapy: a) CT - a family therapy modality; b) definition and indications; c) classic models (P. Caillé; M. Elkaïm; A. Canevaro); d) specificities in the context of 2nd order therapies; e) CT with a person; f) proposals for a therapeutic protocol

5. Intervention Programs (e.g., Emotionally Focused Therapy): a) contents, strenghts and limitations; b) relevant empirical research. Effectiveness and outcomes.

6. Specific areas in Couple Therapy (homoconjugality; infidelity; couples in reconstituted families; couples with alcoholic IP; marital violence)

Head Lecturer(s)

Maria Madalena Santos Torres Veiga Carvalho

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Individual work with presentation in the classroom on the themes of the program: 40.0%
Frequency: 60.0%

Bibliography

Brown, J.(2019).The potent cocktail of love, intimacy, sex, and power: an assessment pyramid for couples therapy. Sexual and Relationship Therapy.

Hardy, N. R., & Fisher, A. R. (2018). Attachment Versus Differentiation: The Contemporary Couple Therapy Debate. Family Process, 57(2), 557–571.

Moser, M. B., Dalgleish, T. L., Johnson, S. M., Lafontaine, M., Wiebe, S. A., & Tasca, G. (2016). Changes in Relationship-specific Romantic Attachment in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 42(2), 231–245.

Narciso, I., & Ribeiro, M. T. (2009). Olhares sobre a Conjugalidade.Coisas de Ler.

Tatkin, S. (2011). Wired for Love. Oakland, New Harbinger Publications.

Vanhee, G., Lemmens, G. M. D., Moors, A., Hinnekens, C., & Verhofstadt, L. L. (2018). EFT-C’s Understanding of Couple Distress: an Overview of Evidence From Couple and Emotion Research. Journal of Family Therapy, 40, 24-44.