Couple Assessment in Clinical Settings

Introduction

The process for assessing couples is both quantitatively and qualitatively distinct from that for assessing individuals. With couples one has not only both partners to evaluate, but also the patterns of interaction that define their relationship. Whereas persons pursuing individual therapy typically acknowledge some culpability for their distress and assume at least token responsibility for change, partners entering couple therapy often attribute greater responsibility for relationship difficulties and burden for change to each other. A unique advantage to assessing couples is the opportunity to observe directly many of the patterns of communication and interaction that partners describe as problematic.

A Conceptual Model for Assessing Couples

Snyder and colleagues (Snyder, Cavell, Heffer & Mangrum, 1995) advocated a comprehensive model for directing and organizing assessment strategies for couples and ...

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