Couple Clinical Assessment

1. The first model that we will examine is the Cognitive Behavioral Model. The primary goal of a clinical assessment using this model is to identify the problems which the couple who is seeking assistance has come to solve. Inherent in this is the clarification of the cognitive, affective, behavioral, and environmental problems that have contributed to the problem and to the couple's concerns. For Mike and Mary, there are three main issues that have led them to seek assistance. First and foremost is Mike's infidelity, which occurred during Mary's pregnancy and has led her to distrust him and to want to punish him. Second is Mike's stress level, which has led to a blowup at work and is placing additional stress on the relationship. Lastly, both Mike and Mary have unresolved family issues from their upbringing that may be contributing to their problems.

Because Mike and Mary are entering into therapy at a crisis moment, the first session is going to be a delicate balancing act. The very first thing I would do is let them know that they have made no commitment to the therapy yet but that instead they are here today to determine whether couple therapy is the best course of action for them. Because they are entering the therapy at a crisis point, however, I will also let them know that cognitive behavioral therapy has proven to be a highly effective technique for sorting out the types of problems that they are most likely facing (Gurman and Jacobson, 33).

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eir feelings about growing up in a challenging domestic environment. It may also help them to solidify their long term goals together. They both clearly want to make their relationship work, and though they have significant problems that they need to overcome their willingness to work through these problems together is a very positive cognitive step. Throughout the therapy, I would focus on activities that allow them to bond in their shared history, feelings, and experiences. 2. The second approach I will use with Mike and Mary is Narrative Couple Therapy. Narrative Couple Therapy (NCT) involves finding out whether the stories that couples are living and in which their identities are constructed are ones that they prefer and enjoy. NCT holds that relationships are multi-storied, that they can be expressed and experienced through a wide variety of different narratives and that these narratives can change depending on the particular perspective they are told from. In this sense, there can be many different "true stories" about the same experience. NCT does not focus on the traditional evaluation of the health or pathology of a relationship, instead it seeks to facilitate a cooperative and collaborative reauthoring proces

Category: Psychology - C