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This groundbreaking approach presents a new paradigm of relationships—one that deals with the couple as a single entity with its own unique personality and dynamics. Challenging the prevailing paradigm of individualism prevalent in traditional psychotherapy and Western culture, the therapists work with both partners to help them achieve a shared identity as a couple—an identity that centers on a powerful vision for their future together, not on issues solely from the past, which are the most frequent topics of couples sessions. The therapists demonstrate a simple, efficient model for achieving healthy couple functioning. This model, Couple Power Therapy (CPT), is based on a positive, solution-focused, step-by-step process of four basic tasks to be completed by the couple with the therapist's assistance. These tasks, the Four Cs of Couple Power, in sequence are: commitment, cooperation, communication and community. Emphasis is on establishing a strong base of commitment to the relationship (vs. to the individual) and cooperation as a couple "team" before proceeding to traditional communications training. The approach includes not only efficient intervention but powerful maintenance and prevention strategies. This maintenance function is accomplished by fulfilling the fourth C, facilitating community support through a variety of means. The Four Cs serve as an assessment and diagnostic tool for determining readiness for couples therapy and to help the practitioner to know when, where, how, and with whom to intervene for maximum positive treatment effects. By focusing on what is possible rather than what is wrong, CPT makes the treatment process positive and encouraging for both clients and therapists. When a couple creates a "proclamation" of their joint vision with the aid of the therapist, they construct an arena where they are free to realize powerful possibilities together. The ability to construct a joint vision is prognostic of successful treatment and of the couple's longevity. Therapists using the Four Cs are not just applying techniques to fix a dysfunctional relationship in the moment; they are fostering an ongoing, cocreating process. The partners' commitment to the couple as an entity may be seen as a "marital virtue," a concept explored recently by philosophical psychologists (Fowers, 2000; Richardson, 2001; Richardson et al., 1999; Cushman, 1990). This morally responsible view of "partnership marriage" (Fowers, 2000) includes notions of teamwork, active listening, and the couple as a "mini-community" going beyond just individual gratification. CPT expands the notion of mini-community to encourage couples to discover or create a larger community of couples. This larger community moves partners beyond the status quo and provides for lasting relationship satisfaction. Both couples and therapists alike often mistakenly begin with the premise that a relationship in need of help must be corrected or fixed in some way. They have probably read a book or seen a program that defined the so-called "right" partnership or the "perfect" mate, and they are discouraged that they cannot achieve that ideal. This is an example of the kind of obstacle the popular media creates by portraying unrealistic standards for couples to live up to. By presenting a framework of tasks for the couple to accomplish during therapy, rather than problems to fix, the therapist guides them to choose what they want to pursue. This allows the couple to focus on creating positive possibilities and visions for the future, rather than getting caught up in problems of the past. The therapist identifies and builds on the strengths and competencies that are inherent in the couple itself to help the partners reach their goals. This possibility-based perspective on couples work is consistent with strategic, structural, and narrative therapy approaches that are the basis of Couple Power Therapy. In summary, the major ideas of CPT include:
Couple Power Therapy is appropriate for a large number of people seeking treatment. It works best with those who are capable of understanding what a commitment is and are able to keep their word. If they are interested in making their relationship work, this model can be effective. A few contraindications for treatment should be considered, however:
Most reasonably verbal clients with average intelligence are suitable for treatment. |
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