Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy: Theoretical Background, Empirical Research, and Dissemination

Abstract

Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT), developed by Drs. Andrew Christensen and Neil Jacobson, builds off the tradition of behavioral couple therapy by including acceptance strategies as key components of treatment. Results from a large randomized clinical trial of IBCT indicate that it yields large and significant gains in relationship satisfaction. Furthermore, these benefits have been shown to persist for at least 5 years after treatment for the average couple. Not only does IBCT positively impact relationship constructs such as satisfaction and communication, but the benefits of therapy extend to individual, co-parenting, and child functioning. Moreover, IBCT has been shown to operate through the putative mechanisms of improvements in emotional acceptance, behavior change, and communication. IBCT was chosen for nationwide training and dissemination through the Veteran Affairs Medical Centers. Furthermore, the principles of IBCT have been translated into a web-based intervention for distressed couples, OurRelationship.com. IBCT is continuing to evolve and grow as research and technologies allow for continued evaluation and dissemination of this well-supported theoretical model.

From Couple Therapy 1.0 to a Comprehensive Model: A Roadmap for Sequencing and Integrating Systemic, Psychodynamic, and Behavioral Approaches in Couple Therapy

“…Conversely, therapists should offer skill-building and symptom-focused methods to clients who are more impulsive and aggressive" (p. 52). Other research recommends insight-oriented approaches when wives complain about insufficient closeness (Roddy, Nowlan, Doss, & Christensen, 2016) and behavioral approaches, in general, for men (Friedlander et al, 2006), creating a potential juggling act for therapists. Other authors note that cultural norms may inhibit examination of familyof-origin issues (Boyd-Franklin, 2003;Falicov, 2014).…”

Couple therapy, family therapy and systemic interventions for adult‐focused problems: the current evidence base

“…In a major long‐term comparative study of the effectiveness of traditional and integrative behavioural couple therapy for severely distressed couples, reviewed in Roddy et al . () and Briggs et al . (), there were two key findings.…”

Editorial: The Systemic in Couple and Family Research and Couple and Family Therapy

“…Research on the impact of couple and family therapy also has been substantially positive (Baucom & Crenshaw, ; Henggeler & Schaeffer, ; Liddle, ; Robbins, Alexander, Turner, & Hollimon, ; Wiebe & Johnson, ). If the founders of family therapy hope that couple and family therapy would result in transcendent outcomes compared to other therapies have not been fulfilled (there are many examples where individual interventions work fine and some instances where neither family nor individual therapy resolve problems), the research assessing those couple and family treatments that have been studied is still overwhelmingly positive for a very wide range of difficult problems (McFarlane, ; Miklowitz & Chung, ; Roddy, Nowlan, Doss, & Christensen, ).…”