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Cited by 149Psychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsCounseling, Therapy, and Family DynamicsAttachment and Relationship Dynamics

Common principles of couple therapy.

Benson, Lisa A., McGinn, Meghan M., Christensen, Andrew·2012·Behavior Therapy
DOI 10.1016/j.beth.2010.12.009
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Abstract

The similarity in efficacy of evidence-based couple therapies suggests that it may be useful to identify those treatment principles they hold in common. Expanding on the previous description of a unified protocol for couple therapy (Christensen, 2010), this article outlines five common principles: (a) altering the couple's view of the presenting problem to be more objective, contextualized, and dyadic; (b) decreasing emotion-driven, dysfunctional behavior; (c) eliciting emotion-based, avoided, private behavior; (d) increasing constructive communication patterns; and (e) emphasizing strengths and reinforcing gains. For each of these five elements of the unified protocol, the paper addresses how and to what extent the most common forms of evidence-based couple therapy carry out this principle. Implications for clinical practice, treatment research, and basic research on intimate relationships are discussed.

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  • Oxytocin has been shown to reduce anxiety and stress; boost trust, eye-contact, mind-reading, and empathy; heighten the availability of positive relationship memories; and improve social attention, recognition, appraisals, and encoding/retrieval of memories with social content.

    “Specifically, oxytocin has been shown to reduce anxiety and stress [52-54]; boost trust [55-57**], eye-contact [58], mind-reading [59], and empathy [60]; heighten the availability of positive relationship memories [61, 62]; and improve social attention, recognition, and appraisals, as well as the encoding and retrieval of memories with social content [63**].”

    From Could intranasal oxytocin be used to enhance relationships? Research imperatives, clinical policy, and ethical considerations (2013) · cites this paper as [58]

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Authors
Benson, L. A., McGinn, M. M., & Christensen, A.
Affiliations
University of California, Los Angeles (US)
Corresponding author
Benson, Lisa A.
ORCID
Venue
Behavior Therapy
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2012-03
Volume
43
Issue
1
Pages
25-35
ISSN
0005-7894 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.beth.2010.12.009
OpenAlex
W1984118019
Cited by
149
References
54
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 3
FWCI
7.58
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Behavior Therapy (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Keywords
couple therapy, Unified Protocol, evidence-based psychotherapy, treatment principles, dyadic perspective, dysfunctional behavior, constructive communication, strengths-based approach, intimate relationships
MeSH terms
Humans, Stress, Psychological, Practice Guidelines as Topic, Couples Therapy, Biomedical Research

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