Investigating the Evaluation of the Effectiveness of an Integrated Model of Therapy Using Structural and Gottman Method Approaches on Cohesion, Flexibility and Communication of Disadjustment Couples

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the combination of Guttman couple therapy and structural family therapy on cohesion, adaptability and incompatible couple relationships.

The research population includes maladapted couples referring to Behbahan Education Counseling Center in the first half of 2019. A sample of 30 couples from this population was selected by available methods and randomly divided into two experimental groups Were controlled. The quasi-experimental research design was pre-test, post-test and follow-up with a control group. First, pre-test was taken from both groups and then the experimental group underwent combination therapy for 8 sessions per week.

After the sessions, both groups underwent post-test and 1.5 months later underwent follow-up test. The research instruments included the Elson, Portner & Bell family cohesion and adaptability scale and the communication subscale of the Enrich Elson, Fournier and Drakeman questionnaires. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis of covariance (ANKOVA) and multivariate analysis (MANKOVA).

The results showed that the combination of Guttman couple therapy and structural family therapy significantly improves cohesion, adaptability and incompatible couple communication (p <0.05). The results also showed that the effectiveness of this combined approach lasted until the follow-up stage. The results obtained based on the effectiveness of this approach were discussed in detail.