The Hope-Focused Couple Approach is a method of practical intervention for couples' counseling and enrichment that aligns with Christian principles. As introduced by Ripley and Worthington (2014), they suggest an acronym of four questions, AFTR, for a counselor to ask oneself concerning the approach after an intake session to create the best plan of treatment for the couple (p.90):
A: Is couple counseling appropriate for this couple?
F: Is the Hope-Focused approach a good fit for this couple?
T: Does a typical course of counseling need to be altered for this couple?
R: Is the approach relevant to the couple's perceived need?
Of these four questions, I believe that the question concerning fit is the most important one to address when a counselor is deciding on the best intervention to help resolve their clients' issues. Is the hope-focused couple approach a good enough fit to work for this couple? If so, the counselor will now to be able to adequately the remaining questions of the acronym concerning appropriateness, relevancy, and the need for typical treatment. During the thorough assessment of the intake process, the counselor is better able to conceptualize what is happening between the couple. With that being said, the counselor will then take the information gathered from the intake process to decide if the hope-focused couple approach is the most appropriate treatment for them at that particular time.
An issue in evaluating this approach's fit for the couple encompasses the remaining questions and how they each relate to one another. If it isn't relevant to the couple, appropriate to their situation or require typical treatment then it will not be a good fit. According to Ripley and
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K., & Casado-Kehoe, M. (2011). Case studies in couples therapy: theory-based approaches. London: Routledge.
Ripley, J. S., & Worthington Jr., E. L. (2014). Couple therapy: A new hope-focused approach. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. ISBN:
9). Based on the afore initiatives, the mental health professional must decide which therapy would be beneficial in treatment for the clients’ problems. Evaluations and reevaluations may be needed to be successful in treatment (Nurcombe, 2014,
Evaluation of an assumption can be done with data collection and analysis. To evaluate Dr. Napier’s philosophical assumption that we marry or partner with our “worst nightmare,” I would suggest using almost any information that demonstrates patterns of behavior associated with personality psychology, and information that can be gathered systematically through observation and measurement also known as scientific method. I would confer with books written by experts in the field of experiential therapy with couples, articles from social science journals, and legal statistics representative of the population experiencing a high rate of divorce as a result of irreconcilable differences.
Gladding, S. T. (2010). Family therapy: History, theory, and practice (5th Ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson
Emotion-focused couples therapy assists in identifying, processing and expressing partners’ emotional experiences within the context of their relationship. Emotions are treated differentially depending on which emotion is expressed and how it functions for both the individual and the couple (Goldman and Greenberg, 2013). Emotion-focused therapy is rooted in attachment theory, using the lense of early relationship bonds to conceptualize the couple’s relational conflict issues. These early relationships influence one’s identity and self-soothing practices (Goldman and Greenberg, 2013). Terminal illness and end-stage cancer can threaten the attachment bond that creates safety and security within couples. Emotion-focused couples therapy has been shown to be effective when working with couples where one partner is facing terminal illness (Tie and Poulsen, 2013) or end-stage cancer (McLean and Nissim, 2007; McLean, Walton, Rodin, Esplen, & Jones, 2013). Partners who are experiencing depression along with marital distress have also improved with emotion-focused couples therapy (McLean and Nissim, 2007), showing rapid recovery with spousal support and compassion (Gurman, 2008). Considering the case of Skyler and Walter, Emotion-focused couples therapy would be the most effective in alleviating their current relational conflicts that are influenced by Walter’s cancer diagnosis, Skyler’s depression, and both partners’ attachment experiences in early life as well as in their relationship.
Treatment under this model is one of problem solving and utilizing an individual’s strengths to overcome his or her issues. The goal is to foster empowerment and self-sufficiency in order for the client to return to his or her environment (Woodside & McClam, 2014).
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The counselor accomplishes the above by expressing empathy, developing discrepancies, going along with resistance and supporting self-efficacy. Moreover, the counselor guides the client toward a solution that will lead to permanent posi...
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The techniques used in marriage and family counseling can be different. For instance, counselors will sometimes handle family therapy in different ways than they would couples or marital therapy. Both family and marriage c...
Gottman’s book The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work has, helped understand better the dynamic within my marriage. I am the type of person who does not like to speak about personal problems with anyone, let alone a stranger. My husband and I seek marriage counseling about two years ago. However, after four sessions I decided to stop attending. I felt that the listening and the expressing of our feelings was not helping in mending our relationship instead, I felt more resentful. I could not understand why I felt that way when everyone kept telling me that therapy is the best thing to do to work out our
Satir, V. (1967). Conjoint family therapy; a guide to theory and technique (Rev. ed.). Palo Alto, Calif.: Science and Behavior Books.