What CBCT for PTSD is:
Cognitive Behavioral Couples Therapy for PTSD (CBCT for PTSD) is an empirically-supported treatment for traumatic experiences and relationship distress when one or more partners are experiencing PTSD. Developed by Drs. Candice Monson & Steffany Fredman, this treatment was developed to help individuals get both themselves and their relationships “unstuck” from PTSD.
PTSD often affects intimate relationships. Maintaining healthy relationships requires a great deal of vulnerability, conflict resolution, and trust, all of which can be difficult after experiencing trauma. People who experience PTSD report more distress in their relationships due to difficulties communicating and resolving conflict, building trust, and establishing emotional and physical intimacy. Couples therapy for PTSD was designed to both increase couple satisfaction and decrease PTSD symptoms by addressing relationship issues that are impacted by trauma and using the power of the relationship to make each person better. While the treatment is focused on reducing PTSD symptoms and its impact on the relationship, all partners will be equipped with skills to better communicate and regulate their emotions when any kinds of conflicts or triggers arise in the relationship.
When and Why to choose couples therapy for PTSD:
You may be wondering whether to choose a couples therapy for PTSD or seek out individual therapy through our other trauma therapies. CBCT for PTSD is a good fit when there are challenges or distress in the relationship due to trauma, such as trouble with communication, trust, and intimacy. First and foremost, couples therapy requires that all partners are on board with therapy! If your partner is unwilling to be a part of therapy, then individual therapy for PTSD is likely a better fit. In addition, CBCT for PTSD is not a good fit if your partner was the perpetrator of the trauma you want to address, such as in the case of intimate partner violence.
Therapeutic Components:
- Structure: CBCT for PTSD is a type of talk therapy that is structured and skills-driven. This therapy combines safety building and communication practice as a couple with exercises to challenge fear-based PTSD beliefs that keep you and your relationship “stuck” in unhelpful patterns.
- Theory: CBCT for PTSD stems from cognitive-behavioral approaches and focuses on the effects of learned beliefs on trauma symptoms and interactions in the relationship. In addition, CBCT for PTSD is based on the theory that while PTSD can cause problems in the relationship, the relationship can also make PTSD better or worse. Thus, CBCT for PTSD focuses on harnessing the power of the relationship to improve PTSD by improving communication skills, conflict resolution, intimacy, and trust.
- Intervention: CBCT for PTSD focuses on identifying the patterns of thoughts and behaviors that affect PTSD and your relationship. The foundation of the treatment is learning skills to better communicate and to work together to challenge unhelpful beliefs that keep you and your relationship stuck. It is designed to help you to better understand each other’s emotions and reactions, to fully experience your emotions and share emotional intimacy with each other, and to change your behaviors to be more consistent with your goals as an individual and a couple.
- Modalities: The TAP Clinic currently offers CBCT for PTSD with a couples therapist.
What CBCT for PTSD treats: