SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COUPLES THERAPY AND
INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY

Presented by Carl H. Shubs, Ph.D.

From IPN’s Psych Bytes Page posted November 21, 2010

by Richard Niolon, Ph.D.

In individual psychotherapy, the client seeks treatment for his or her issues, which may include exploring current or past relationships.

In couples therapy, the client is “the relationship,” though there are two people involved. As in individual psychotherapy, a therapist will try to help each partner come to an understanding of what is going on for them, how this came to be a problem and how it might be helped.

Individual therapy might focus on helping each partner with a decision to stay in the relationship or separate, whereas couples therapy might have a more specific goal, either for the partners to stay together and try to heal the relationship, or to separate in a civil manner which preserves some respect and ability to communicate, thus honoring their history and the family.

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Carl H. Shubs, Ph.D., is a psychologist in independent practice in Beverly Hills. He is a member of the Independent Psychotherapy Network. You can contact Dr. Shubs at (310) 772-0520 or DrShubs@DrCarlShubs.com. His website is www.DrCarlShubs.com.

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SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COUPLES THERAPY AND INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY Presented by Carl H. Shubs, Ph.D.

SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COUPLES THERAPY AND
INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY

Presented by Carl H. Shubs, Ph.D.