A couple requests help in improving their seven-year marriage. When you ask them about their goals, they begin to argue almost immediately. The husband states his wife nags him too much about chores. The wife states her husband is lazy. How should you proceed with establishing treatment goals?

When establishing treatment goals, it is important to teach people skills that they can use during and after treatment. Sometimes solving the current problem will not give them these skills. Teaching people new skills and how to apply them to their lives can assist them in making progress after treatment ends. In couples therapy, sometimes each person wants their spouse to be "fixed." It is important to keep longer-term goals in mind while helping the couple with their immediate marital issues.



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It is correct to help them learn new skills that they can use to address the problem of disagreements over chores as well as other problems in their relationship.

Working on goals individually may not help the clients improve their communication or conflict resolution as a couple.

Although sometimes people require individual therapy before they can make progress in couples therapy--especially if there are serious mental health issues--this does not appear necessary in this case.

Addressing the issue of the household responsibilities may be helpful, but teaching them skills they can use after treatment ends is likely to be more beneficial.

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