The Couples Loyalty and the Therapeutic Alliance

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to regulate the couples distress and reactivity the clients have to be willing move forward with the process. My sister views towards therapy wouldn’t allow her to effectively receive the help she needs. There are so many people who need therapy but because of their viewpoints towards counseling it inhibits them to go. The enactment process is used to improve communication among the couple; however I don’t think this process will be effective with my sister and her boyfriend.

Particular Benefits to Clients- Infidelity (Stage Model of Forgiveness)

Gordon and Baucom (2005) developed a stage model of forgiveness that is a response to trauma including 3 major stages in the forgiveness process.

1. Dealing with the impact

2. Searching for a meaning

3. Recovery or moving forward.

Baucom, Gordon, Synder, Atkins and Christensen (2006) explains the treatment model allows forgiveness and integrates cognitive behavioral and trauma based approaches to relationship difficulties. Stage 1 allows the therapist to gain insight on what the injured partner knows about the affair. Stage 2 allows the therapist to explore factors that could have potentially contributed to the affair (Baucom, Gordon, Synder, Atkins and Christensen, 2006). External issues such as financial difficulties or job stress. Stage 3 is considered the recover stage. The therapist goal is to take into account the information that was gathered in stage 2. By moving forward the therapist will the different aspects of forgiveness amongst the couple. I see this model as way for the couple to learn new things about one another. In the final stage the clients will determine if the relationship is healthy for one another or not. This model can save a relationship from separation or divorce if the couple is willing to work towards moving on from the trauma.

References

Butler, M. H., & Gardner, B. C. (2003). Adapting enactments to couple reactivity: Five development stages.

http://search.proquest.com.proxy1.ncu.edu/docview/220970172?accountid=28180

Garfield, R. (2004). The therapeutic alliance in couples therapy: Clinical considerations.

http://search.proquest.com.proxy1.ncu.edu/docview/218870907?accountid=28180

Baucom, D. H., Gordon, K.C, & Snyder, D. K. (2005). Treating affair couples: An integrative approach.In J. L. Lebow (Ed.),Handbook of clinical family therapy(pp. 431-463). New York: Wiley.

Baucom, D. H., Gordon, K., Snyder, D., Atkins, D., & Christensen, A. (2006). Treating Affair Couples: Clinical considerations and initial findings. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International quartely Volume 20 , 375-88.