IBCT (Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy) is a relatively recent evidence-based approach to couple therapy. It is rooted in behavioral couple therapy but has integrated the concept of emotional acceptance as a therapeutic target (in addition to the target of behavior change). IBCT was founded by Andrew Christensen, a clinical psychologist and distinguished research professor at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and his colleagues.

In IBCT, the therapist combines two types of interventions: those focusing on increasing mutual understanding, emotional intimacy and acceptance, and those focusing on altering dysfunctional communication patterns, resolving or ameliorating couple conflicts, and promoting positive behavior.   

The four phases of IBCT

1. The assessment phase: during this phase, the therapist develops the formulation of one or two core issues and a plan for treatment using the DEEP analysis. The D-E-E-P is an acronym and describes how the couple’s issue is the result of Differences between the partners, Emotional sensitivities, External stressors, and Patterns of dysfunctional communication.
2. The feedback phase: during this phase, the therapist shares the DEEP formulation with the couple, outlines the active treatment phase, and secures a commitment from the couple to engage in that treatment phase.
3. The active treatment phase: during this phase the therapist applies acceptance-oriented strategies targeting Differences, Emotional sensitives, and External stressors and change oriented strategies targeting Patterns of communication and External Stressors (if they can be changed).
4. The termination phase: during this phase, the therapist may space sessions at longer intervals until the couple is confident they can continue on their own.  This phase ends with a termination session that reviews the DEEP analysis, the progress the couple has made during treatment, and ways to handle inevitable slip-ups and back-sliding.

Learning Objectives

In this training, you will learn how to apply IBCT intervention strategies and techniques to couple therapy. This includes the ability to assess couple issues, develop a DEEP case formulation, provide feedback to couples and work consistently with the conceptualization during the treatment phase. With a full training ticket, you will get the opportunity to practice these skills in a group with access to supervision.

Do you want to know more?

If you want to know about IBCT and the empirical background for the method, visit the official website. Here you will find lots of knowledge and IBCT resources.

If you want a more in-depth overview, we recommend reading this article:
Roddy, Nowlan, K. M., Doss, B. D., & Christensen, A. (2016). Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy: Theoretical Background, Empirical Research, and Dissemination. Family Process, 55(3), 408–422. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12223. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/famp.12223

We also recommend:

• Christensen, A. & Doss, B. D. (2017).  Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy.  Current Opinion in Psychology, 13, 11-114. 
• Christensen, A., Doss, B. D., and & Jacobson, N. S. (2020).  Integrative behavioral couple therapy:  A therapist’s guide to creating acceptance and change (2^nd ed).  New York:  W. W. Norton.  This is a revision of Jacobson and Christensen (1998).  Acceptance and change in couple therapy.  New York: Norton.
• Christensen, A., Doss, B. D., & Jacobson, N. S. (2014). Reconcilable differences (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.  This is a revision of Christensen & Jacobson (2000). Reconcilable Differences. New York: Guilford.