marital/couples issues

Two case studies ilustrate how the therapist-client relationship can be harnessed for the treatment of sexual disorders and marital distress. Possible curative mechanisms in the relationship are discussed. In the first case study, the relationship with the therapists offered opportunities for the woman in the couple to learn to express her needs clearly and to obtain collaboration from the other in the relationship. It also allowed the male partner to learn to interact in an open, non-defensive way. In the second case study, the therapist–client relationship offered in vivo learning opportunities concerning the game of give and take that characterizes an intimate relationship, including allowing oneself to be vulnerable and opening up for initiatives and challenges from the partner.

The present study was done with the aim of determining the efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy training with regard to sexual dissatisfaction among couples. The research plan for this study was pretest, post-test and a control group. The statistical population was chosen among all couples from Shiraz who had called on the state and private consulting centers. Among these, 16 couples (32 people) whose scores on the index sexual satisfaction were less than average were randomly selected. Then they were randomly distributed into the experiment and control groups. The results were indicative of a significant different between the groups regarding the dependent variable. In other words, the approach of acceptance and commitment therapy training exerted an increasing influence on sexual satisfaction in couples. This efficacy was observed more in men.