Couples Counseling Group Proposal - Mary E....

Couples Counseling Group ProposalMary E. McClure, LCSW

A proposal explaining that a couples counseling group would be beneficial to married couples in the Dubuque community.

February 21, 2012

Running Head: COUPLES COUNSELING GROUP PROPOSAL 1

Married couples in the Dubuque community would benefit from a couples’ counseling group.

Though multiple opportunities exist for couples to pursue individual or couple’s counseling, research

indicates that a group setting would provide numerous benefits for couples who are looking to improve

their relationship with their spouse.

It is important to first identify what the goals of married couples counseling are. According to

Goldman and Greenberg (1992), one of the main goals of group marital counseling is to facilitate conflict

resolution, as there is a close link between marital conflict and marital dissatisfaction. Oftentimes, each

partner takes on a role that reappears in the relationship in a cyclical fashion, such as “demand-withdraw”

or “attack-attack” (Goldman & Greenberg, 1992). Sytema and Bout (2006) reported on the effectiveness

of a Belgian inpatient marriage counseling group and noted that the focus was on improving

communication skills, problem solving within the relationship, and skill training.

These goals can likely be accomplished through couple’s counseling, but hosting the counseling

in a group setting provides numerous advantages that would be advantageous to achieving conflict

resolution, increased communication, problem solving, and skill training. For example, though Kilgo’s

(1975) observations of group therapy were documented a number of years ago, the strengths of group

marital counseling still hold true today: members do not feel alone in their struggles, they can learn from

their peers and feel satisfied that they are in turn helping others, and they are able to see a “reality-

reflection” in the struggles and triumphs of other couples that they may not see in their own marriages.

Also notable is that group counseling is more economical for the counselor and agency, as we would be

able to serve more clients in a short amount of time (Kilgo, 1975). These characteristics of a group would

be arguably more beneficial for both the client and agency than individual couples counseling.

Furthermore, Abraham’s (2007) New York Times report on Judith Coché’s Philadelphia-based

marriage group revealed more strengths to marriage counseling, particularly that when a group of

peers are insisting on a point, it is harder for one person to ignore or get defensive about than if it

was just one therapist expressing the same point. Coché also notes that when one member of the


couple has a harder time speaking up, they will have the opportunity to excel in a group setting

as he or she can align with other members of the group to express a point that he or she would be

unable to do alone (Abraham, 2007). It is clear that the dynamics of a group would improve the

advancements a couple could make in individual or couple’s counseling, as group members

would build off of each other’s strengths to improve their own marriage.

Not only is a couple’s relationship with their fellow group members important, but that

with their group leader as well. Research notes that it is important to take in to account the group

members’ therapeutic alliance with the counselor leading the group. Glebova et al (2011) noted

that achieving therapeutic alliance is more difficult with couples and groups because of each

member’s “interpersonal conflicts,” along with their different motivations for being in

counseling and what they hope to achieve. Though this may make a group more challenging for

the group leader, she can become more creative with her techniques so as to appeal to multiple

people. This approach would strengthen the group dynamic as a whole because instead of having

two people in conflict in a counseling session, working with other people who may have similar

motivations and goals will open up more room for discussion and understanding.

Since an important aspect of group counseling is the ability to learn from the other couples in the

group, a closed group would be most beneficial. Research has indicated that marriage counseling groups

can range anywhere from a few weeks up to a year, depending on the frequency of sessions, and most

allow couples to sign up for another set of sessions. Naatz (1996) reported that according to one study on

general marriage psychotherapy, 50% of participants measurably improved after 8 sessions, and 75%

measurably improved after 26 sessions. This research indicates that it may take a while for couples in

individual couples therapy to make progress, so therefore in a group setting those first few sessions would

be spent feeling safe and comfortable with the other group members. Therefore, in a closed group setting

the trust is achievable.


It is therefore that I propose a marriage counseling group. I think that it would be beneficial to the

couples to be able to learn from one another and strengthen their marriage bonds. I plan to execute this

group in the following ways.

Agency

Crossroads Counseling Center of Dubuque’s mission is on par with what I would like to

accomplish through my group: “to join with each person in building therapeutic relationship and

discover solutions through strength based approaches.” Crossroads already provides numerous

therapy programs, outpatient counseling, and groups, such as Social Skills, Anger Management,

and Children of Divorce. I believe that Crossroads’ central Dubuque location and established

presence in the community would make it a suitable place to host a marriage counseling group.

Crossroads would also be able to recommend couples whom they have worked with to the group.

Crossroads is made up of thirteen counselors, which leaves room for support. I will be

able to use these colleagues as resources and may even be able to have one as a guest speaker at

a group session. Since Crossroads does have so many programs, it may be difficult to find

availability at the agency to host the group. I plan to resolve this conflict by working with the

staff to find a time that works for both me and the agency and that would be suitable for clients

as early as possible before the group starts.

Group Composition

The marriage counseling group will be composed of four to five local couples whom are

married and actively looking for a way to improve their relationship. Both members of the

relationship should express willingness to participate and motivation to make a difference in

their relationship. Couples need not have previously sought therapy. An appropriate candidate

would be a married couple that has been married for longer than one year. They must be willing

to sacrifice their time to come to the meetings and be willing to open up and share at the group,


and most importantly they must have a desire to improve their marriage. I may find it beneficial

to meet with the individual couples before the group begins to ensure that they meet all the

qualifications and are therefore are suitable candidates for the group.

Couples will be recruited through advertising at Crossroads and recommendations from

counselors who may have couples who are already seeking therapy. I will also place

advertisement in the local paper and at local parishes. I will also talk to a number of my

colleagues in the local Dubuque community and make them aware of my group so that they may

let some of their clients know if they feel it would be beneficial. While this will be a voluntary

group, couples are making a commitment to attend the sessions. Out of respect for the other

group members, multiple absences will result in a couple being asked to leave the group and

return when they are more prepared to make the commitment to working on their marriage.

This group will be closed so that the couples can get to know each other and create a

secure bond where they will be open to share intimate details about their lives. The group will

meet twice a month for five months with sessions scheduled on a week night from 7:00-8:30. It

will be held at Crossroads. Childcare will be available to couples who need it for an additional

charge.

Group Goals

It is my hope that members will gain a stronger marital bond through improving their

conflict resolution skills, communication skills, and problem solving skills. This will be

accomplished in the group through a number of role playing exercises, opportunity for open and

honest discussions, and focus on numerous aspects of marriage. I will also place a strengths-

based perspective on the sessions so that couples will be able to find the strengths in both their


partner and their selves instead of focusing on their weaknesses, allowing opportunity for

progress.

To work toward achieving these goals, each month will have a theme. The first month

will be “getting to know yourself and your spouse.” I anticipate that this theme will be beneficial

to the couples personally, yet help the members of the group get to know one another and begin

to establish trust among one another as well. The second month will be “bring the heat,” in which

we will discuss aspects of conflicts within the relationship. The third month will be “how did we

get here?” This gives couples the opportunity to look back into their past, thinking of tendencies

of previous relationships, including dating, friends, and family, to see how they affect them in

their relationship today. The fourth month will be “what did you say?” in which we will work on

communication skills; one session this month will also include a trust building/communication

activity where one member of the couple will lead their blindfolded partner through an obstacle

course. The final month will be “I do.” The final sessions will be open to discussing how the

couples have seen their own marriages and each other’s’ evolve over the course of the past five

months.

I plan to evaluate the group’s progress by completing surveys during their first session,

on their last session, and two months after their final session. The initial and final session surveys

will ask them to describe his/her marriage in five words, his/her partner in five words, and

himself/herself in five words. I will be able to look at these and see if their perceptions have

changed by quantifying the words as positive or negative. I will also ask questions about their

marriage and have them answer on a Liker-type scale (strongly disagree--strongly agree). The

post-treatment follow-up survey will be mailed to their homes. It will include Liker-type scale

questions about the how their group experience was and the state of their marriage since the


conclusion of group. All surveys will have a space for a comments section. Surveys will be filled

out by each individual; the couples will not complete them together.

Qualification of Group Leader

I feel qualified to lead the group as I received my BSW in Social Work from Loras

College in Dubuque, Iowa in 2014 and my MSW from University of North Carolina School of

Social Work at Chapel Hill in 2016. I then went on to receive my licensing as a clinical social

worker. I have worked with married couples and families through multiple agencies and have

two and a half years of group leadership experience through leading groups for parents

considering adoption and premarital counseling. I also plan to look for a similarly qualified male

colleague to assist me in leading the group. I feel that having both male and female leadership

will help all members of the group to feel safe and able to open up.

Ground Rules

The number one rule in our group will be confidentiality. It is likely that very personal

subjects will arise, and therefore this group will only be successful if members trust that their

information will not be spread around. I also feel it is important to implement a no cell phone

rule so that all members will be present and not attending to other business or relationships.

Keeping in mind that some members may have children to be concerned about in case of an

emergency, they will be allowed to use their cell phones for that purpose only. I plan to ask the

group members what rules they suggest, so that they feel like it is an environment they want to

be in. I anticipate they will recommend items such as no interrupting and be respectful of one

another. This will build a sense of ownership with the rules and therefore members will be more

likely to hold each other accountable.

Establish Trust


In order for the group to be successful, it is important that the members trust their spouses

and the other members of the group. I plan to start of the session by explaining that this is an

environment where they can feel safe. I will explain to them about the confidentiality that is

emphasized in the ground rules and remind them that they are all mature, responsible adults who

can be civil with one another.

I will also establish trust by letting the members know off the bat that some intense

feelings and emotions may come up during this group. Marriage difficulties are often private and

kept under the rug, so speaking about them openly may cause a rush of emotions. Some of the

conversations we have may end up getting brutally honest. By letting the members know this off

the bat and reminding them about it, trust will be established and we will be able to better have a

group where members feel safe enough to share personal information.


References

Abraham, L. (2007, August 12). Can this marriage be saved?. . Retrieved from

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/12/magazine/12cples.html?

Glebova, T., Bartle-Haring, S., Gangamma, R., Knerr, M., Delaney, R., Meyer, K., & ...

Grafsky, E. (2011). Therapeutic alliance and progress in couple therapy: multiple

perspectives. Journal Of Family Therapy, 33(1), 42-65. doi:10.1111/j.1467-

6427.2010.00503.x

Goldman, A. A., & Greenberg, L. L. (1992). Comparison of integrated systemic and emotionally

focused approaches to couples therapy. Journal Of Consulting & Clinical Psychology,

60(6), 962.

Kilgo, R.D. (1975) Counseling Couples in Groups: Rationale and Methodology. The Family

Coordinator, 24(3): 337-342. http://www.jstor.org/stable/583187.

Naatz, L. F. (1996). Treatment of marital conflict and prevention of divorce. American Journal

Of Family Therapy, 24(1), 94-95.

Sytema, S. S., & Bout, J. J. (2006). Treatment outcome of an inpatient group therapy for

couples. Journal Of Family Therapy, 28(4), 392-403. doi:10.1111/j.1467-

6427.2006.00360.x

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