contingency contractingIn BMT, a technique
in which spouses are trained to modify their own
behavior to bring about a specific desired change
in the behavior of their mate.
couples therapyAformofpsychotherapyin
which a couple (married, unmarried, or same-sex)
meets with one or more therapists to work on any
number of issues.
curative factors in group therapyThe com-
monalities among diverse group therapy
approaches proposed by Yalom to be the source of
the positive treatment effect. These factors include
imparting information, instilling hope, universal-
ity, altruism, interpersonal learning, imitative
behavior, corrective recapitulation of the primary
family, catharsis, and group cohesiveness.
double-bindA case in which an individual is told
two contradictory messages by an important figure
in his or her life such that every response he or she
makes with regard to that figure is wrong. At one
time, double-bind situations were believed to
contribute to the development of schizophrenia.
emotionally focused couples therapy (EFT)A
form of couples therapy that is based on the
assumption that marital distress results from
negative affect and destructive interactional styles.
The interventions of EFT attempt to change
partners’problematic interactional styles and
emotional responses so that a stronger and more
secure emotional bond can be established.
family therapyA form of psychotherapy in
which several members of a family are seen by the
therapist in addition to the identified patient. This
therapy modality is based on the idea that every-
one in a family is affected when one member
develops a problem and that the home environ-
ment may have contributed to the development of
the problem in the first place. Although there are a
variety of theoretical family approaches, most share
the primary goal of improving communication
within the family.
general systems theoryAn important concept in
family therapy that conceives of the family as a
system and believes that“pathology”is best
reducedbyalteringthewaythatthesystem
functions.
Gestalt groupsA group approach in which the
therapist focuses on one patient at a time and asks
that person to experience his or her feelings and
behaviors while the other group members are
asked to observe or provide feedback to the person
in the“hot seat.”
group therapyA form of psychotherapy in which
one or more therapists treat a number of patients at
the same time. Generally speaking, most groups
consist of five to ten patients who meet with the
therapist at least once a week for 90-minute to 2-
hour sessions. However, groups may differ greatly
in their theoretical orientations, their rules and
exclusions, and whether they are viewed as
primary or supplemental modes of treatment.
multisystemic therapyA form of family therapy
originally developed to treat antisocial behaviors in
youth. It is unique in that it is administered in the
home, school, or neighborhood and focuses on the
family’sroleintheproblems.
problem-solving techniquesIn BMT, training
couples in positive communication skills to
enhance the effectiveness of decision making and
negotiation.
psychoanalytic group psychotherapyGener-
ally speaking, psychoanalytic therapy carried out in
a group setting. Here, group dynamics are
considered secondary to individual processes, and
the group acts as a vehicle through which the
individual may obtain insight into his or her
unconscious forces and defenses.
psychodramaA form of role-playing developed
by Moreno in which one patient in a group acts
out a role assigned by the therapist, other patients
serve as the supporting cast of“auxiliary egos,”and
yet other patients serve as the audience. The idea is
that by listening to the responses of the auxiliary
egos and the reactions of the audience, the patient
in the primary role will experience catharsis and
self-understanding.GROUP THERAPY, FAMILY THERAPY, AND COUPLES THERAPY 455