Evaluating the effectiveness of paradoxical couple therapy for the treatment of couple problems: A case study

Couple therapy is considered as the treatment of choice for common distresses and problems within couples' relationships. Different models of couple therapy have been developed with the shared aim of treating the couples' distressed relationship. The present article has two purposes. Firstly, this article introduces the principles and techniques of a new couple therapy model named paradoxical couple therapy or PTC-based couple therapy. Secondly, this article evaluates the effectiveness of PTC-based couple therapy for the treatment of couples' distressed relationship. A husband and wife participated in the present study to receive a PTC-based couple therapy.  Evaluation of clinical indices as well as treatment outcomes were performed based on Mental Health Inventory (MHI-28), Golombok Rust Inventory of Marital State Questionnaire (GRIMS), and the Treatment Outcome Subjective Rating Scale (TOSRS) at intake, the end of treatment sessions, and in a 2 and 4 years follow-up. The results indicated a considerable increase in the couples' score of psychological well-being as well as a considerable decrease in their score of psychological distress and relationship problems. Evaluation of the treatment outcomes also revealed that the treatment was completely successful. The couple rated their progress and improvement at the end of the treatment 90% for the wife and 95% for the husband. Evaluation of the treatment outcomes in a 2 and then 4 years follow-up showed that the treatment changes were satisfactory, stable and permanent, during which no relapse was happened. These results corroborate the deep and permanent effects of the PTC-based couple therapy in the shortest possible time. The influential mechanisms of “timetable for periodical management” and "timetable for paradoxical reciprocity negotiation", as the two main PTC-based couple therapy techniques, and their adjustment to the treatment outcomes are explained in the present article. The PTC-based couple therapy, as a very short-term, effective, efficient and yet economical approach is introduced and suggested for the treatment of couples' distresses and problems.