Other techniques are those listed as:
Opening space for recovery and taking it slow
Compliments and statements of affection
Writing positive requests for the future
It is important that the couple become able to schedule pleasant times in spite of the depression cycle such as higher activity task of cycling, walking, etc. Furthermore challenging the belief systems in the depression are vital and then to fill that void with ": positive constructions and narratives" about the situation. The CTR or "Challenge Test Reward" is a technique utilized for transforming through challenge of a self-critical belief through generation of an alternative positive belief to replace the old negative belief with self-rewarding dialogue resulting from this technique when accomplished. (Author of Ibid p. 431)
Communication and Problem Solving:
It is imperative that the therapist provide the client with communication and problem solving skills for dealing with the depression. These skills may be necessary for overcoming the tendency to deal with the situation in an angry manner which only serves to worsen the situation as well as the depression for the partner experiencing it. Treatment may be facilitated through gradual exposure to the situations feared while enabling the client through new skills of coping to deal with the situation in an effective manner.
Other Intervention: Psychoeducation
Psychoeducational intervention is a combination of anxiety explanation with framing of therapy as a "fresh start experience and rationale for treatment." (Ibid p. 433) The idea in treatment is stated to be that: "input should be presented as a single spoken and written statement and then incorporated into discussions that occur over the course of treatment. This is considered to be an "adaptive form of treatment." Anxiety is experienced on three levels or parts which are:
Thoughts about being afraid.
Physical feelings of being afraid.
Behavioral patterns that enable the avoidance of the person, place or thing of which they are afraid.
There are four listed techniques used for coping and exposure in the treatment of anxiety which are:
1. Hierarchy Construction
2. Highlighting Habitation
3. Coping Skills Training
4. Exposure Home work Assignments
Summary and Conclusion:
This work provides a model which...
Therapy is best when the process is voluntarily entered by each individual in the couple relationship. The therapist plays a vital role in this type of therapy assisting the couples in learning that "internal signs of arousal are not "harbingers of doom."
Bibliography
Beach, S et al. (1990) Depression in Marriage a Model to Etiology and Treatment. New York: Guilford.
Carr, Alan
Family Therapy: Concepts, Process and Practice. Wiley Publishers
Dishion, Thomas and Patterson, Gerald (1999) Model Building in Developmental Psychopathology: A Pragmatic Approach to Understanding and Intervention. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology Vol. 28 No. 4, 502-512.
Family Therapy Practice with Adult-Focused Problems: Depression and Anxiety: p. 414-435.
Jones, E.
A et al.
2000) Couples Therapy for Depression. London, Karnac
Omarzu, Julia (2000) A Disclosure Decision Model: Determining How and When Individuals will Self-Disclose. Personality and Social Psychology Review 2000 Vol. 4 No. 2, 174-185. Dept. Of Psychology. Univeristy of Iowa.
Sussman, Nan M. (2000) The Dynamic Nature of Cultural Identity Through Cultural Transitions: Why Home is Not so Sweet. Personality and Social Psychology Review Vol. 4, No. 4 355-373. Dept. Of Psychology, Sociology and Social Work. City University, New York.
Theories that Focus on Belief Systems (the material you sent to me)
Family Therapy Practice with Adult-Focused Problems
Family Therapy Practice with Adult-Focused Materials (Your Source p. 429)
Family Therapy Practice: Depression and Anxiety p. 437
Factors and Influences in Functioning Related to Couple Therapy
Takes extra time off work to help out at home
Female Partner feels ineffectual and not worthy
Female Partner: depressed and anxious
Male Partner believes Female Partner will never be herself again
Male Partner becomes angry, then sorry and guilty
Has his mother check in often on the household
Male Partner: strong family principles believe he must make everything "all right."
Female Partner is more depressed and under more strain
