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APA Psychotherapy Training Videos are intended solely for educational purposes for mental health professionals. Viewers are expected to treat confidential material found herein according to strict professional guidelines. Unauthorized viewing is prohibited.
The basic theoretical approach used in this video is cognitive–behavioral. The goals of therapy are to enhance the couples' functioning together as partners and to increase their overall quality of life. Improving methods of conflict resolution and problem solving within the marital context are also important. Clients who describe themselves or their spouses as withdrawing from conversation, usual physical activities, or social events are often appropriate clients for this approach. Couples in long-term marriages who consider their relationship as frequently in conflict or who are unable to satisfactorily cope with age-related changes or life circumstances can also benefit from this approach. Key Concepts The therapy strives to enhance coping strategies that require adaptation, such as coping with illness, retirement, cognitive changes, caregiving responsibilities toward the spouse, decreased energy, and changes in friendships and family relationships. The behavioral component of the therapy emphasizes increasing overall activity level if there has been
The cognitive component emphasizes changing pessimistic viewpoints to more positive yet realistic appraisals of life circumstances and changes that accompany the later years. Additional Tools Dr. Hartman-Stein often uses the Geriatric Depression Scale (Yesavage et al., 1983) as a screening instrument for depression, the Mini-Mental State Exam (Folstein, Folstein, & McHugh, 1975) as a screening tool for cognitive impairment, and the Behavioral Competence Inventory (Hartman-Stein & Reuter, 1996) if functional ability in one of the partners has declined. Suggested Outcomes Possible positive outcomes may include an increase in engagement with life activities, improvement in the perception of the quality of the relationship and communication and problem-solving strategies between partners, and remission of depressive symptoms in one or both marital partners. |
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