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Couple Therapy

Module description

Couple therapy is an integral aspect of contemporary family therapy practice. This module will enable you to understand the couple relationship both from within and outside of the family context, drawing on existing knowledge of gender and power from the first year. This module will enable you to understand the different theories pertaining to couple therapy and how to plan, implement and evaluate a piece of therapy in a variety of clinical settings. This module will help you explore the recent developments in evidence-based couple therapy, in particular The Exeter Model - an evidenced based couple therapy programme in the treatment of depression.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of this module is to enable you to:

• Develop an understanding of couple relationships within family and social contexts;
• Understand the different models of couples therapy;
• Understand the theories of how to work with couples within families;
• Develop a context for thinking about how, when and why to work with couples and how to choose in which modality to work with couples;
• Understand how culture, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation will impact on the couple dynamic.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Describe the role of couple therapy and couple relationships in contemporary society
• 2. Outline and explore common couple interactional patterns
• 3. Identify various models of couple therapy and apply a systemic model to clinical practice.
• 4. Diagnose the challenges to couple relationships that present in clinical work
• 5. Analyse recent innovations in evidence-based practice within couple therapy and review and critique the use of specific manuals (i.e. The Exeter Model)

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Understand, critically evaluate and apply theoretical contributions
• 7. Illustrate diverse couple relationships that span sexual orientation, disability and culture

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 8. Select and organise material to produce a coherent written argument
• 9. Monitor your own progress
• 10. Link theory to personal and professional experience

Syllabus plan

The module will run over term 3 of the second year and will be interspersed with reflective learning sessions (including supervision groups and systemic self-awareness groups). Reading seminars will concentrate upon set reading, while each day will primarily focus on a theme related to couple therapy. Teaching will be in groups and will have a high element of experiential learning. There will be individual tutorials, work groups and independent study-time. Encouraging self-enquiry and awareness, to enable you to keep a questioning and open stance to your clients and to remain aware of your own fallibility, accountability, and prejudices will form part of the teaching.

Indicative topics:

• Personal/professional development
• Partnerships: an overview of couple issues
• Gender and power in couple relationships
• Intimacy: attachment within couple relationships
• Monogamy, affairs and sexuality
• Violence
• Separation and divorce
• Illness and couple relationships
• Evidence-based practice

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Two assessments are required for this module. In all cases re-assessment will be the same as the original assessment. Where you have been referred/deferred for any form of assessment detailed above you will have the opportunity to retake within four weeks from the date that feedback was provided.

If you pass re-assessments taken as a result of deferral, your re-assessment will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment and the overall module mark will not be capped.

If you pass re-assessments taken as a result of referral (i.e. following initial failure in the assessment), the overall module mark will be capped at 50%.

If you fail re-assessments taken as a result of referral (i.e. following initial failure in the assessment), you will be failed in the module and as a consequence you will be failed in the programme and your registration as a student of the University will be terminated.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Gottman, J. (1994) Why Marriages Succeed and Fail. New York: Simon and Schuster.
• Jones, E. and Asen, E. (2000) Systemic Couple Therapy and Depression. London: Karnac.
• Reibstein, J. (1997) Love Life. London: Fourth Estate.
• Reibstein, J. (1997) ‘Rethinking marital love: Defining and strengthening key factors in successful partnerships.’ British Journal of Marital and Sexual Therapy,12, 3.
• Reibstein, J. (2007) The Best Kept Secret. London: Bloomsbury.
• Reibstein, J. and Richards, M. P. M. (1992) Sexual Arrangements: Marriage, Monogamy and Affairs. London: Heinemann.
• Reibstein, J. and Sherbersky, H. (2012), Behavioural and empathic elements of systemic couple therapy: the Exeter Model and a case study of depression. Journal of Family Therapy, 34: 271–283
• Wampler, K (2020) Handbook of systemic family therapy Vol 3: Couple therapy New jersey: Wiley & Sons

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=6019 (all resources will be made available on ELE, including additional material covered in the tutorials, the required readings, information about assessment and additional material (e.g., videos))

Key words search

Family therapy, evidence-based practice, manuals