Why consider the client's partner in psychotherapy?

Abstract

The bi-directional impacts of an individual’s psychotherapy on their partner and of the partner and their relationship on the therapy should be a consideration throughout treatment. There is a bias in the literature towards either an individual or a couples approach to therapy, but only scattered mention of working with a blend of the two. This article considers how, during the process of change in individual therapy, new problems might arise in a client’s romantic relationship. Furthermore, the client’s significant other might resist or otherwise hamper their partner’s therapy if they do not accept or understand the changes that are taking place. Finally, some ethical arguments are raised which add to the case that psychotherapists should not ignore the impact that psychotherapy has on their client’s relationships and vice versa.

Whakarāpopoto

Ko ngā awe o te arongarua o te whakaoranga hinengaro tautahi ki tōna hoa me te hoa tau atu hoki ki tā rāua tirohanga ki te whaihauora e tika ana kia āta whakaarohia huri noa o te rongoā. E whakawhirinaki ana ngā tuhinga ki te takitahi ki tā te tokorua kauawhi ki te rongoā, engari torutoru noa iho te whakahuanga ake o te whakamahitanga i te hononga o ēnei. E titiro ana tēnei tuhinga i te wā o te huringa o te haumanu takitahi, tērā pea ka ara ake he raruraru hou ki te noho whaiāipo a te kiritaki. I tua atu hoki, tērā pea ka ātete atu tērā o te kiritaki ka whakaroa rānei i te whakaoranga o tana hoa mena kāre e whakaae e moohio rānei ki ngā huringa hou. I te mutunga, ka whakaarahia ake ētahi whakapae matatika e tautoko ana i te kōrero kia kaua te kaiwhakaora hinengaro e noho turi ki te awe o te whakaoranga hinengaro ki ngā hononga o ā rātou kiritaki, ā, huri whakamuri hoki.