Treatment of couples basically falls into three categories:  systemic; psychodynamic; and behavioral/educational.  Novice and experienced therapists alike struggle with the many challenges of couple psychotherapy.  Teaching communication skills and pointing out behavior patterns can be helpful for many couples.  But when feelings of rage or hopelessness prevail, or narcissistic vulnerabilities are present, the deeper roots of such difficulties need to be addressed and focused on.

Psychoanalytic theory, especially self-psychology is highly suited to understanding couples’ dynamics.   Having an in-depth point of view and recognizing the influence of unconscious processes on these relationships can help therapists treat these couples and manage their own reactions to the couples as well.

Interview Date: 5/2020

Format: Asynchronous, distance learning. Non-interactive. Recorded audio with transcript.

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Subject Matter Experts:

Carla Leone, Ph.D., is Director of North Suburban Family Psychologists, and is on the faculty of the Institute for Clinical Social Work in Chicago.  She is an elected member of the governing council of the International Association of Psychoanalyic Self Psychology and author of numerous articles on the subject of couple therapy from the perspective of self-psychology.

Interviewer:

Barbara Alexander, LCSW, BCD, is a graduate of the Smith College School for Social Work and the Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Program of the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis. After working for 13 years in child psychiatric settings and 30 years in private practice, she is now founder and president of On Good Authority, and an expert interviewer.

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