Treating Relationship Distress and Psychopathology in Couples
A Cognitive-Behavioural Approach

Close relationships and mental health are two key ingredients to living a meaningful, fulfilled life. These two domains are the central focus of Treating Relationship Distress and Psychopathology in Couples: A Cognitive-Behavioural Approach. As expert clinicians, trainers, and researchers in the field of cognitive-behavioural couple therapy and couple-based interventions for psychopathology, the authors offer a highly accessible volume for experienced clinicians and trainees alike.

This book details the most recent innovations in CBCT, a principle-based, flexible treatment approach for couples with a wide range of relationship concerns, circumstances, and stages of life. Based on a clear conceptual framework, readers learn how to address individual and couple functioning in an integrated, comprehensive manner and how to apply principle-based interventions that directly flow from this framework.

Treating Relationship Distress and Psychopathology in Couples was written by a team of five authors, born in four different countries and working together as a team for a number of years, providing a cohesive framework based on work in a variety of contexts. While staying close to research findings that inform treatment, they provide a text for clinicians at all levels of training and experience in working with couples.

Part I: An Introduction and Overview of Cognitive-Behavioural Couple Therapy 01. Introduction 02. A Cognitive-Behavioural Model for Understanding Relationship Functioning and Individual Well-Being 03. Conducting Cognitive-Behavioural Couple Therapy Part II: Working with the "Fundamentals" of CBCT—Behaviours, Cognitions, and Emotions 04. Behavioural Factors and Communication 05. Cognitive Factors 06. Emotional Factors Part III: The Contextual Framework of CBCT: Attending to the Individual, Couple, and Environment 07. The Individual 08. The Couple 09. The Environment Part IV: Addressing Psychopathology in a Relationship Context 10. Treating Psychopathology with Couple-Based Interventions 11. Depression in Couples 12. Anxiety, OCD, and PTSD in Couples 13. Other Disorders in Couples Part V: Assessment, Case Conceptualization, and Treatment Planning to Address Relationship Distress and Psychopathology—Pulling it all Together 14. Assessment, Case Conceptualization, and Treatment Planning 15. Concluding Comments

References Appendices Index

Donald H. Baucom is Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is one of the developers of cognitive-behavioural couple therapy and its application to treating relationship distress and psychological and medical concerns in one partner. He is an active researcher, clinician, teacher, trainer, and supervisor in the area of couple functioning.

Melanie S. Fischer is a clinical psychologist at the Institute of Medical Psychology at the University Hospital Heidelberg. Her research specializes in psychopathology in a relationship context and the development, evaluation, and dissemination of couple-based treatments. She also is a clinician and provides training and supervision in couple therapy in Germany, the U.S., and England.

Sarah Corrie is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Programme Director at Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Holloway University of London. She is a trainer and supervisor in cognitive-behavioural couple therapy, a Visiting Professor at Middlesex University and a Fellow of the British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies.

Michael Worrell is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Head of Department, CBT training programmes, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Holloway University. He is Visiting Professor at Regent’s University London. Michael works clinically with couples and is a trainer and clinical supervisor in cognitive behavioural couple therapy.

Sara E. Boeding is a clinical psychologist in the Durham VA Health Care System. She is an active clinician and supervisor with a specialty in couple-based interventions for relationship distress and psychopathology. She has trained others in couple-based interventions both locally and internationally.