Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy: Theoretical Background, Empirical Research, and Dissemination

• Author: Andrew Christensen,Brian D. Doss,McKenzie K. Roddy,Kathryn M. Nowlan
• Date: 01 September 2016
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12223
• Published date: 01 September 2016

Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy: Theoretical

Background, Empirical Research, and

Dissemination

McKENZIE K. RODDY*

KATHRYN M. NOWLAN*

BRIAN D. DOSS*

ANDREW CHRISTENSEN

†

Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT), developed by Drs. Andrew Christensen

and Neil Jacobson, builds off the tradition of behavioral couple therapy by including accep-

tance strategies as key components of treatment. Results from a large randomized clinical

trial of IBCT indicate that it yields large and significant gains in relationship satisfaction.

Furthermore, these benefits have been shown to persist for at least 5 years after treatment

for the average couple. Not only does IBCT positively impact relationship construc ts such

as satisfaction and communication, but the benefits of therapy extend to individual, co-par-

enting, and child functioning. Moreover, IBCT has been shown to operate through the

putative mechanisms of improvements in emotional acceptance, behavior change, and com-

munication. IBCT was chosen for nationwide training and dissemination through the

Veteran Affairs Medical Centers. Furthermore, the principles of IBCT have been transl ated

into a web-based intervention for distressed couples, OurRelationship.com. IBCT is contin-

uing to evolve and grow as research and technologies allow for continued evaluation and

dissemination of this well-supported theoretical model.

Keywords: Couple therapy; Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy; Relationship distress

Fam Proc 55:408–422, 2016

Integrative behavioral couple therapy (IBCT) was developed as part of the third wave of

behavioral acceptance-based therapies and has its roots in behavioral approaches to

couple distress. Although behavioral couple therapy had long been lauded as the best

treatment for relationship distress, both Neil Jacobson and Andrew Christensen noticed

about 1/3 of couples did not improve in response to treatment, and these couples were typi-

cally more disengaged with each other and more polarized on central issues. Drs. Jacobson

and Christensen began utilizing emotional acceptance as a means to foster collaborative

engagement between the partners; from this new mindset, couples were more receptive to

traditional techniques such as communication and problem-solving skills. Thus, emotional

acceptance became the primary therapist intervention in IBCT. Although traditional

behavioral techniques remained a part of IBCT, they are often more flexibly applied and

intermingled with acceptance strategies.

Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy development occurred in concert with other

important developments in the couples’ field. Emotion Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT),

*Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL.

†

Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to McKenzie K. Roddy, Department of

Psychology, University of Miami, P.O. Box 248185Coral Gables, FL 33124-0751. E-mail: mkr19@miami.edu.

408

Family Process, Vol. 55, No. 3, 2016 ©2016 Family Process Institute

doi: 10.1111/famp.12223