The self in the couple relationship: part 2

Authors

Jim Crawley, Edith Cowan University
Jan Grant

Document Type

Journal Article

Publisher

Taylor and Francis

Faculty

Faculty of Community Services, Education and Social Sciences

School

School of International, Cultural and Community Studies

RAS ID

76

Comments

Crawley, J., & Grant, J. (2001). The self in the couple relationship: part 2. Psychodynamic Counselling, 7(4), 461-474. Available here

Abstract

Part 1 of this paper examined some of the ways in which individual therapy, by assisting in the development of a more cohesive sense of self in the individual, inevitably has an impact on the individual's relationships, especially their relationship with a partner. This paper approaches the topic of the significance of ‘the self’ in the couple relationship from an alternative direction. It focuses on the significance of ‘the self’ for couples therapy, and argues that couples therapy may sometimes need to include therapeutic work with one partner to facilitate change in the relationship. In both parts of the paper, a conceptualization of the couple relationship as ‘a transitional space’ is central.

DOI

10.1080/13533330110087714