ICPR Abstracts: Session 31

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Session 31: Workshop

Intimacy-oriented Couples Therapy:
An Application of Intimacy Theory and Research

Karen J. Prager
University of Texas at Dallas

The effective treatment of distressed couples' intimacy-
related problems requires a clear conceptualization of 
couples' normal intimacy dilemmas and a working model 
of the process by which these dilemmas become serious 
incompatibilities.  Therapists must target the individual 
context (e.g., each partner's needs for separateness) and 
the relational context (e.g., partners' ability to discuss 
differences without polarizing). Individual issues such as 
differences in intimacy-related need strengths are best 
assessed by interviewing the couple, and their 
consequences are best treated with acceptance-oriented 
therapeutic strategies.  Relational issues such as 
dysfunctional problem-solving processes are best assessed 
using observational methods and should be treated with 
change- oriented strategies.