Marital Problems

Description

Respond to at least one of your colleagues’ postings in one or more of the following ways:

• Ask a probing question.
• Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting.
• Offer and support an opinion.
• Make a suggestion.
• Expand on your colleague’s posting.
• 
  Colleague: Loretta Salter Post a brief description of the couple or family case. Jimmy and Tina have been married for 7 years and have two children ages 5 and 2 years old. Tina is a stay at home mom who is currently attending online school, and Jimmy is the bread winner where he is a training consultant and travels often. Due to Jimmy’s travel schedule this leaves Tina to be the primary parent in his absence. When home, Jimmy complains that the house is not as clean as he would like it and Tina shuts down and cries. Jimmy learned that Tina has been having an emotional affair with one of her classmates. Jimmy tries to do as his father did by working to make a good life for his family, and Tina feels that Jimmy is always gone leaving her to feel like a single parent, and lonely. When Jimmy discovered the relationship he confronted Tina who denied anything sexual had taken place, although she did admit there was an exchange of a kiss. Jimmy feels betrayed and that boundaries had been crossed and now he cannot trust Tina. Tina said she felt unappreciated, lonely and was vulnerable due to Jimmy’s constant absence. Tina wants for her and Jimmy to seek couple’s counseling to work on their marriage .Explain the theories and theory-based interventions to couples and families experiencing life transition and developmental issues you will apply to this case. When working with couples who are currently experiencing transition or developmental issues, as a clinician providing theories and interventions to assist couples get to a place of healing is essential. Emotional-Focused Therapy would benefit this couple as it will allow them to discuss any unresolved issues regarding Jimmy’s absence from the home. Jimmy and Tina will be able to address unmet needs and emotional insecurities. EFT will help with understanding negative cycles in their relationship that has brought them to this current place and being able to utilize empathy to understand their partners need (Woldarsky & McKinnon, 2019). EFT will help to create more positive cycles within their relationship that will lead to fulfill both partners (Woldarsky & McKinnon, 2019). The use of EFT will establish a foundation where positive communication between the couple will happen (Elham et al, 2018).Develop and justify treatment plans for the fictional couple or family experiencing life transition and developmental issues. Trauma focused therapies is one of the leading evidence-based practice in working with couples when resolving emotional and behavioral difficulties of a traumatic experience (Gurman et al, 2015).Identified strength: Stable employment and home, seeking to work on marriage Identified Problems: Emotional affair, communication, trust, feeling single in a marriage Long-term goal: Jimmy and Tina will develop effective communication skills Long-term goal: Jimmy and Tina will establish a secure connection/bond Short-term goal: Jimmy will forgive Tina Short-term goal: Jimmy and Tina will increase intimacy Objective: Jimmy and Tina developing effective communication skills will help them engage in conversation where they can listen to each other needs. Also, utilizing empathy to understand partner’s needs and emotions that will lead to forgiveness. Date night can be scheduled once a week to strengthen connection. Strategies: Self-reports will be discussed and track couples progress every 30 days. Outcome: Jimmy and Tina will actively attend and engage in counseling once a week for six months .Conceptualize the couples or family’s problem through your chosen theoretical orientation. Jimmy and Tina have a desire to work on their relationship with a fresh start. The couple avoided important topics of discussion of how Jimmy’s constant travel makes Tina feel and how his absence from home is missed and important with raising the children. Affairs is one of the number two causes of divorce outside of finances (Gurman et al, 2015). An emotional affair is troubling due to the perception that emotional connection is stronger than physical. As a clinician it is important to have an understanding of each person’s view and how to address what is key to the couple in providing a therapeutic lens to help the couple address their issues and move forward to a healthier relationship .ReferencesElham, A., Kianoosh, Z., Farshad, M., (2018). Effectiveness of solution-focused brief couple therapy improvement in movement of communication patterns and marital intimacy in women. Journal of Research & Health, 8(6), 555-564.Gurman, A. S., Lebow, J. L., Snyder, D. K. (2015). Clinical handbook of couple therapy. New York, NY: The Guilford Press. Woldarsky, C., & McKinnon, J.M., (2019). Emotion-focused therapy for couples. In L. S. Greenberg & R.N. Goldman (Eds.), Clinical handbook of emotion-focused therapy. (pp.447-469). American Psychological Association.