Gender: A critical factor in a couples group

Couples group therapy should be considered as a primary treatment for marital couples whose dysfunctional interaction is rigidified and chronic. A gender-linked perspective for treatment is developed which expands a psychodynamic approach underscoring power as one of the central issues in marital conflict. Clinical vignettes from couples groups illustrate this model. A gender orientation facilitates the psychodynamic group process, decreases unrealistic expectations of the spouse, and encourages greater acceptance of male/female and individual differences. In this setting, individuals are able to develop new and more functional modes of interaction with their spouses, which generate an increased sense of empowerment.Excerpts from this paper were presented at the American Family Therapy Association meeting in Montreal, 1988.The authors gratefully acknowledge the helpful comments of Henry Grunebaum, M.D., and Fred Sander, M.D.