Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT)

Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy

Integrative behavioral couple therapy (IBCT) is a new approach to couple therapy. It was developed by Andrew Christensen, a clinical psychologist and late Neil S. Jacobson, who was also clinical psychologist.

IBCT is ‘integrative’ in at least two senses; first it integrates the goals of acceptance and change as positive outcomes for couples in therapy. Second, it integrates a variety of treatment strategies under a consistent behavioral theoretical framework.

The first three sessions consist of evaluation period in which the therapist learns about concerns of the couple; obtain the brief history of their relationship. At initial sessions therapist sees both partners but at later sessions he/she sees partners

They are so busy in their work that they rarely pay attention for consultation.

Gender difference is one of the major barriers. For Muslims if therapist is female then individual sessions between male client and female therapist are not appropriate and for female client it is even more inappropriate to have individual sessions with male therapist.

The husband, family, society, religion do not allow Muslim woman to be alone with non mahram male. Even some families do not like woman to talk about their personal issues to therapist in the presence of husband so this is major barrier due to which some Muslim couples do not consult with therapist. So, because of this issue female therapists are more appropriate to deal this kind of couple as woman can be more comfortable to talk and share feelings and concerns with another female, and husband and family also don’t have much objection.

Research has suggested that the association between attitudes and behaviors may not hold as strongly in men (Good, Dell, & Mintz, 1989), and more broadly, there may also be significant differences in help seeking between men and women in general, which could affect seeking help together (Perry, Turner, & Sterk, 1992; Surrey,

S., Berns, S., Wheeler, J., Baucom, D. H. & Simpson, L. E. (2004). Traditional versus integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy for Significantly And Chronically Distressed Married Couples, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72, 176-191. Christensen, A., Atkins, D. C., Yi, J., Baucom, D. H., & George, W. H. (2006). Couple And individual adjustment for two years following a randomized clinical trial Comparing traditional versus integrative behavioral couple therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74, 1180-1191.

Doss, B. D., Thum, Y. M., Sevier, M., Atkins, D. C., & Christensen, A. (2005). Improving Relationships: Mechanisms of change in couple therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 624-633.

Good, G. E., Dell, D. M., Mintz, L. B. (1989). Male role and gender role conflict: Relations to help seeking in men. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 36 (3), 295– 300.

Jacobson, N. S., Christensen, A., Prince, S. E., Cordova, J., & Eldridge, K. (2000). Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy: An acceptance-based, promising new Treatment for couple discord. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68 (2),