Assignment: Applying Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on patterns of thinking, with decreased attention on patterns of behavior and emotional components of relationships. Researchers have given an enormous amount of attention to CBT and its application to a variety of individual mental health concerns, but they also have appropriated it for working with couples and families. Many systems purists argue that CBT is an individual-oriented theory that lacks systemic concepts necessary to conceptualize family or couple issues. In the end, you will have to make the decision as a couples and family helping professional as to whether CBT can address the relational demands of practitioner work with couples and families.

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Choose one media resource from this week’s resources to review. As you begin to formulate a theory-based treatment plan, consider how you would maintain focus on the cognitive-behavioral realm of the couples and/or families, yet attend to the emotional dynamics present in the video.

The Assignment (2–3 pages)

Based on the theory demonstrated in the video you chose (CBT with either a couple or family):

  • Define the problem.
  • Formulate a theory-based treatment plan including short- and long-term goals for the couples and/or families.
  • Describe two theory-based interventions you would use and justify your selection.
  • Explain one anticipated outcome of each.

Gurman, A. S. (2010). Clinical casebook of couple therapy. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

  • Review: Chapter 1, “The Evolving Clinical Practice of Couple Therapy” (pp. 1–18)

Driver, J. L., & Gottman, J. M. (2004). Daily marital interactions and positive affect during marital conflict among newlywed couples. Family Process, 43(3), 301–314.
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Gottman, J. M., & Driver, J. L. (2005). Dysfunctional marital conflict and everyday marital interaction. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 43(3/4), 63–77.
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Gottman, J. M., & Gottman, J. S. (2000–2010). Level 1: Bridging The Couple Chasm Home Study Set. Seattle, WA: The Gottman Institute.
What Is New in This Workshop: The Need for Theory
Gottman, J. M.; Schwartz Gottman, J. (2000-2010). What is New in this Workshop: The Need for Theory. The Gottman Institute.

    • “Research and Theory” (pp. 1-1 to 1-16, 1-31 to 1-38, 6-1 to 6-30)

Williams, M. (2012). Couples counseling: A step by step guide for therapists. Boston: MA: Viale Publishing.

  • Chapter 8, “7th Session: REBT” (pp. 149–175)

Required Media

Gottman, J. M., & Gottman, J. S. (Producers). (2009a). Gottman couples therapy: A new research-based approach: Our research methods [Video file].

Gottman, J. M., & Gottman, J. S. (Producers). (2009a). Gottman couples therapy: A new research-based approach: The sound relationship house [Video file].

Allyn & Bacon. (Publisher). (2002a). Cognitive-behavioral child therapy [Video file].
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 2 hours.

Allyn & Bacon. (Publisher). (2000). Couples therapy for addictions: A cognitive-behavioral approach [Video file].
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 2 hours.