The theories you studied last week target patterns of behaviors, but they also incorporate thoughts and feelings in the moment and over time. You continue your application of theories to couple and family counseling by examining the systemic-emotional aspects of relationships, the patterns of interaction between couples and families, and the meaning associated with those interactions.
For this Assignment, you again watch media of counselors demonstrating counseling, this time using humanistic/experiential and emotionally-focused theories. As you develop treatment plans based on this week’s theories, ask yourself how you recognize emotion in the relational dynamics of the couple or family. Also, consider how you might know emotional changes have occurred and how you would measure progress.
The Assignment (3–4 pages)
Based on the theory demonstrated in one of the humanistic/experiential media resources:

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

Based on the theory demonstrated in the emotionally-focused media:

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

last week Assignment: Applying Bowenian and Structural Theories
Theory-based treatment planning, the type you will use throughout this course, is informed and guided by your theoretical orientation. Incorporating your theoretical orientation into treatment planning will help you set goals and choose treatment techniques and interventions appropriate for the client(s) you serve (Gehart & Tuttle, 2003). This week, you apply two counseling theories, Bowenian and structural, to formulate your treatment planning and apply appropriate interventions.
In this Assignment, you watch videos of counselors demonstrating the use of Bowenian and structural theories in family counseling. You then formulate treatment plans for the couples and/or families in the videos, applying the theories in question and justifying the use of appropriate interventions.
The Assignment (2–3 pages)
Based on the theory demonstrated in both videos:

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

Required Readings

Gurman, A. S., Lebow, J. L., Snyder, D. K. (2015). Clinical handbook of couple therapy. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
Chapter 4, “Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy”

Allan, R., & Johnson, S. M. (2017). Conceptual and application issues: Emotionally Focused Therapy with gay male couples. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 16(4), 286-305

Bell, C. A., Denton, W. H., Martin, G., Coffey, A. D., Hanks, C.O., Cornwell, C. S., & Priest, J. B. (2018). Learning emotionally focused couple therapy: Four clinicians’ perspectives. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 17(1), 61-78.

Carlson, M. W., Oed, M. M., & Bermudez, J. M. (2017). Satir’s Communication Stances and Pursue–Withdraw Cycles: An Enhanced Emotionally Focused Therapy Framework of Couple Interaction. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 16(3), 253-270.

Schmidt, C. D., & Gelhert, N. C. (2017). Couples therapy and empathy: An evaluation of the impact of imago relationship therapy on partner empathy levels. The Family Journal, 25(1), 23-30.

Williams, M. (2012). Couples counseling: A step by step guide for therapists. Boston, MA: Viale Publishing.
Chapter 4, “Communication Skills”

Document: Treatment Plan Template (Word document)

Required Media

Humanistic/Experiential Therapy:

Psychotherapy.net. (Producer). (n.d.). Experiential therapy [Video file].

Psychotherapy.net. (Publisher). (n.d.). Satir family therapy [Video file]. [With Jean McLendon]. United States: Psychotherapy.net.

Emotionally Focused Therapy:

Governors State University (Producer). (2009). Emotionally focused couples therapy [Video file]. Chicago, IL: Author.

Assignment: Apply