Couple therapy for alcoholism

Recent research in the treatment of alcoholism has shown that the involvement of a spouse or partner improves outcome for the client. This hands-on guide presents a time-limited, cognitive-behavioral treatment in the context of couple therapy. The volume demonstrates how to engage the alcoholic's partner as an active participant in the treatment process.

Using this state-of-the-art approach, the practitioner can respond to the needs of both the alcoholic and the partner, which may motivate the couple to remain in treatment and learn the skills they need to overcome the many struggles inherent in a relationship affected by alcoholism.

The treatment described in this book is based on a 20-session model, empirically tested in a research program sponsored by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The book is organized so that each chapter and the suggested interventions may stand alone or be integrated with a variety of therapeutic approaches. Five phases of treatment are described in step-by-step detail, with recommendations for the number of sessions to be spent on each phase.

Following a logical sequence, simple skills (e.g., self-monitoring) are presented first, and more difficult tasks, which build upon previously learned skills (e.g., cognitive and behavioral coping strategies and drink/target behavior refusal training), are introduced in the middle phases of treatment. The couple will be more prepared at this stage to engage in increasingly complex interactions and to team up to reinforce each other's positive behavior changes, including abstinence. The final phases of treatment introduce specific interventions designed to prevent relapse, establish nondrinking social support networks, and address other alcohol-related life problems, such as poor nutrition and lack of exercise.

Illustrative case examples throughout help bring the process to life, and a wealth of reproducible handouts in the form of exercises, charts, and sample dialogue are featured in the book's appendices.