Developmental couple therapy for complex trauma: Results of an implementation pilot study

Abstract

AbstractThis pilot study examined the process and outcome of Developmental Couple Therapy for Complex Trauma (DCTCT) with seven couples. DCTCT is a novel form of couple therapy designed to address complex posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology and couple‐level distress in trauma survivors and their partners. These couples showed statistically significant improvements in overall trauma symptoms, emotion regulation capacities, and reductions in attachment‐related anxiety. These results suggest that DCTCT may be a promising approach to intervention. Future directions include the development of a sequential care model, because resource limitations may not allow for all couples to receive the full treatment model over 40 weeks; it will also be important to address measurement issues in relation to mentalizing, to allow for observational coding across the course of therapy.