Couples therapy as intention: A flexible approach to treatment

ABSTRACT

Contemporary psychoanalytic couples therapy technique may commonly include individual sessions in the course of treatment. Informed by a couples therapy case that required flexible adaptations, this paper proposes that including a substantial course of individual sessions may still make up a couples therapy. When navigating ambiguity and making adaptations as required by this case, a guiding principal is development. The paper considers theoretical factors relating to this expansion of technique and other adaptations, and possible consequences.

KEYWORDS:

• Adaptation
• couples therapy
• developmental
• individual sessions
• psychoanalytic

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank David Shaddock for his generous guidance, feedback, and encouragement for this clinical work and for this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Derek Prowe

Dr. Derek Prowe is a psychologist in private practice in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He sees adult individuals and couples. He previously received training and provided services at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. He is an advanced psychoanalytic candidate at the Minnesota Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis.