Exam Content
This week imagine your supervisor at the community counseling center specializing in EFT asks you to complete a treatment plan for the couple you met last week. Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) is an evidenced-based treatment modality for couple therapy. Research on EFT includes studies with couples from different races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations. The efficacy of EFT is generally positive if the couple meets certain criteria. Using the case study of Joel and Jennifer and the assessment from Week 5, create an EFT treatment plan for the couple.
Read the case study of Joel and Jennifer:
Background:
Joel is a 37-year-old African American who grew up in Texas. Joel lived in a predominately white middle-class neighborhood and reports that he “got along fine” but at some point, realized he was different. Joel tried “very hard to be good enough to get accepted” by his peers. When he was 8 years –old, he found out the man he called “father” is his stepfather; he was devastated and remembers wondering who he really was. His mother and stepfather had another son, and eventually, Joel began to see that his stepfather loved his biological son more. Joel reports his mother was “perfect”; she was “loving, caring and supportive.” Joel reports that fitting in, finding his own identity, and “coming to terms with my race” are unresolved issues.
As a young man, Joel remembers feeling “validated by sex with girls,” which made him feel accepted and attractive. However, Joel struggled to find a career until Jennifer, an elementary school teacher, encouraged him to pursue a teaching degree. Joel reports teaching is a perfect fit for him. After getting his credential, Joel was hired at the same school that Jennifer teaches at but was laid off after the first year due to cutbacks. Joel reports that being laid off is “just another rejection.” Joel is bright and verbally expressive but also guarded and defensive. He reports that he is “arrogant about my self-awareness.” He reports that he has no problem saying how he feels or what he thinks. Joel is a handsome, thin, athletic man; he plays sports and feels that besides his children, that is what makes him feel good now. He was very depressed after being laid off and trying to find a job. It puts additional strain on the relationship that Jennifer has the job he wants.
Jennifer is a 38-year-old Caucasian female who grew up in Southern California. Jennifer reports that her parents divorced when she was 4 years old; she has a younger sister with the same biological parents. When Jennifer was 8, her mother remarried. Her stepfather did not like children, so Jennifer and her little sister had to live in the guest house on the back of the property. The girls were allowed in for meals, but then had to go back to the guest house. The neglect appears significant. Jennifer reports caring for her sister the best she could. According to Jennifer, when she was older, her stepfather sexually abused her one time. She was afraid of him after that and left home very early. She earned a teaching credential and has been employed as an elementary school teacher for several years.
Jennifer is an attractive, slender blond, who does not express her feelings or needs often. Jennifer often shuts down when Joel gets angry; she reports that Joel’s perception of her is often off, but she is afraid he will be angry if she speaks up. Jennifer will agree or be silent rather than argue or defend herself.
Presenting problem:
Jennifer and Joel met about 11 years ago, married and have two children, a boy (7) and a girl (5). They report having financial struggles throughout their marriage. Joel did not establish a career until Jennifer convinced him to get a teaching credential. They were both working at the same school until Joel was laid off last year.
During the first session, Joel reported that the lack of sex was the problem that ruined the marriage for him. He said he stopped trying at least 2 or 3 years ago, but “it had been a problem for a while.” During the session, Joel appeared angry and hostile; he sat with his arms crossed on the sofa with Jennifer. In the follow-up session Joel reported that he “over-disclosed” in the first session and later realized “my race is a problem for me; I’ve never felt part of anything; I don’t fit in.” When Jennifer lost interest in sex, “I felt undesirable; I kept telling her I felt she didn’t want me, and she ignored me; she didn’t’ care,” he explains.
Jennifer reports feeling overwhelmed by Joel’s sexual needs and felt like “an object”; “I didn’t feel like he wanted me; I felt like he just wanted to satisfy himself”. Jennifer reports that Joel “wouldn’t cuddle or hold me; he just wanted me to perform”. During the first session Jennifer disclosed being sexually abused by her stepfather. She began to see that Joel’s sexual advances made her feel like she did when she was abused.
Jennifer reports that last year, while they were working at the same school, Joel became friendly with one of the female teachers and Jennifer felt betrayed. Jennifer was very hurt by Joel’s behavior, stating, “I worked with them; I had to watch it and other people said things to me.” It was very painful; she longed to be close to Joel and had felt rejected and unwanted by him for the last 2 years.
Since being laid off, Joel has become very depressed about not working; Jennifer is the breadwinner, and this makes him feel even worse about himself. Joel agreed to come to therapy because he does not want to break up his family; it makes him “physically ill to think what that will do to the kids”; the children are his primary concern. He wants to stay married, but he is not sure he can “cherish Jennifer the way she wants me to.” Jennifer feels differently; she feels the kids will recover from a divorce. Jennifer does not want to stay married if they cannot “have a loving relationship.” She believes this would hurt the children just as much as a divorce. Joel and Jennifer report they decided to come to couple therapy after having a big argument in front of the children, which they report as rare. After the argument, their oldest child tried to run away because his parents do not love each other anymore. The couple was devastated and since then they have not argued but had very silent weeks.
Complete the Couple Treatment Plan using the EFT theoretical perspective that is comprehensive and detailed in each section and discuss any missing information. Include the following:
Stage 1 – identify and discuss the steps and interventions to meet the goals for this stage.
Stage 2 – identify and discuss the steps and interventions to meet the goals for this stage.
Stage 3 – identify and discuss the steps and interventions to meet the goals for this stage.
Include a discussion about the process of change and potential challenges.
Cite at least 2 professional resources, such as the course textbook and peer-reviewed articles, to support your position.
Format according to APA guidelines. Cite sources in the text of the assessment and create a reference page.
