Session 5 - Communication

Brief Couples Therapy: Group and Individual Couple Treatment for Addiction and Related Mental Health Concerns

For this session:

Session Guidelines
- Objectives
- Checklist
Session Resources
- Materials
- Summary
- Tips for Individual Couple Session
Client Handouts
- Listening and Speaking Skills
- Listening and Speaking Skills Practice Diary
Progress Note

Session Guidelines

Objectives

Couples will:

start the process of working towards improving their communication within their relationship
start to work on improving their listening and speaking skills
identify the areas of deficiency that they would like to improve.

Individuals will practise listening and speaking skills and get feedback regarding what they did well and what to improve from their partners and from the group.

Checklist

Guidelines for the counsellor with tips on what to do with or say to the client.

Check-in

Ask about issues arising from the last session.

“Name a thought, word or feeling that describes how you are right now.”
Stating the Format and Purpose of This Session

“The purpose of the session is for couples to learn or improve communication skills. In order to do this, look at the steps (listed in the Listening and Speaking Skills handout) that we would like you to use in order to express yourself.”
Reviewing Session Homework

Discuss progress over the last week.

Discuss the steps and progress that each person has made towards working on his or her goals.

Therapists keep track of client goals and progress for later sessions.
Role Plays

Give out the Listening and Speaking Skills exercise.

Based on issues or goals that couples defined in previous sessions, have them practise role plays using the Listening and Speaking Skills exercise to help improve their communicating within the relationship.

Options
a) If time does not permit each couple to practise role plays, and if couples have varying skill levels, choose one couple to practise in front of the group.

b) Therapists choose a topic and role-play effective communication on that topic for the group.

c) Do one role-play exercise with speaking skills only, followed by a role play with listening skills only, followed by both.
Homework (Listening and Speaking Skills)

Couples are asked to continue working on Listening and Speaking Skills before the next session.
Check-out

Ask each group member to state one positive word that he or she is thinking or a feeling that he or she is experiencing.

Session Resources

Materials

pens and copies of Listening and Speaking Skills exercise

Summary

Check-in
- Name a thought/word/feeling and/or discuss issues arising from the last session.
Stating the Format and Purpose of This Session
Reviewing Homework
- Keep track of client goals for later sessions.
Role Play and Practising Communication Skills
- Hand out Listening and Speaking Skills exercise.
Homework (Listening and Speaking Skills)
Check-out

Tips for Individual Couple Session 5

Use extra time to prioritize both personal and couple goals and to discuss specific steps in planning to achieve these goals.
Have couples begin to practise listening and speaking skills in role-play discussions.

Brief Couples Therapy

Acknowledgments

Introduction

References

Appendix A: The Background of the Integrative Model