Couples Therapy using the Developmental Model - Choosing the Therapy Modality

In Episode 328 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly take us through this week's three topics:

Firstly, in 'Ethical, Sustainable Practice', we delve into professional letter writing by counsellors when communicating with other professionals.

Then, in 'Practice Matters', Rory speaks with Claire Ratcliffe about relationship therapy using the developmental model, focusing on how couples evolve and how therapists can support growth at each stage.

Lastly, in 'Student Services', Rory and Ken discuss how to choose the therapy modality that is the best fit for you as a future therapist.

Professional Letter Writing [starts at 03:24 mins]

In this section, Rory and Ken explore the topic of professional letter writing. Writing letters to other professionals is an essential skill for counsellors, particularly when you need to communicate about your clients.

Some key points from this section include:

Types of Professional Letters: Referral letters, collaboration letters, and report writing.

Tone and Accuracy: Ensuring the tone is correct, sharing only necessary information, and maintaining confidentiality.

Importance of Second Opinions: Discuss letter content with a supervisor to ensure accuracy and appropriateness before sending.

Rory highlights the crucial need for careful wording in professional documents, as these documents can have significant consequences in situations like child protection or legal matters.

Letters and reports may be called upon in the future, and they need to be defensible and factual.

Couples Therapy using the Developmental Model [starts at 27:52 mins]

In 'Practice Matters', Rory speaks with Claire Ratcliffe, who shares her insights on couples therapy using the developmental model.

Key takeaways include:

The Developmental Model: This model parallels stages of child development and applies them to couples therapy. Couples go through stages, much like children, where they evolve from symbiosis (initial connection) to differentiation (individuality).

Therapist's Role: In the developmental model, the therapist takes an active role in guiding the couple through these stages, recognising differentiation, and helping them navigate relationship growth.

Therapeutic Metaphors: Claire discusses how metaphors can be used to externalise problems and how this helps clients see their issues in a new light.

Claire emphasises the importance of training in couples therapy and how various approaches, such as the Bader and Pearson model, can support counsellors in working with couples.

She stresses that understanding the theory behind these models is essential in creating a strong therapeutic relationship.

Choosing the Therapy Modality [starts at 51:37 mins]

In 'Student Services', Rory and Ken discuss how to choose the therapy modality that suits you best. As a counsellor, finding the right modality for your practice is essential.

Some main points for this section:

Personal Fit: It is crucial to choose a modality that resonates with you personally. The therapy model you train in will shape how you work with clients.

Different Modalities: Some popular modalities include Person-Centred Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Transactional Analysis (TA), and Gestalt Therapy.

Investment and Fit: Choosing a modality is a big commitment of time and money. Consider how well a model fits with your values and goals as a therapist.

It's important to stay open to learning and consider how different approaches might complement each other in your work.

Links and Resources

Counselling Skills Academy

Advanced Certificate in Counselling Supervision

Basic Counselling Skills: A Student Guide

Counsellor CPD

Counselling Study Resource

Counselling Theory in Practice: A Student Guide