Couple dynamics and depression

Couples therapy offers the opportunity to develop understanding for each other, to revise negative patterns in the couple relationship and to discover new, satisfying interactions. Couples in conflict as well as couples who have lost their tension can find more balance in couples therapy. In couples therapy, couples develop new strategies, goals and interaction patterns together and thus achieve greater satisfaction in their relationship.

Differences in a partnership always lead to misunderstandings, conflicts or a lack of understanding. The aim of couples therapy is to improve communication so that both parties are better able to deal with differences.

Mental illness is a particular challenge for couples. Studies show that couples therapy can be just as effective as individual therapy in achieving an improvement in depression, for example (Angelo Barbato et al. 2018). As a rule, we recommend couples therapy in addition to individual therapy in the case of mental illness. The illness not only puts a strain on the person who is ill, but also on the relationship and therefore on the partner. Caring is easier if the sick person reacts gratefully and empathetically. However, anyone suffering from depression cannot give emotional feedback (Klaus-Thomas Kronmüller 2019). Without dealing with the specifics of the illness, the partner may give advice and support that is inappropriate or even harmful. Couples therapy is advisable to ensure that mutual support has the desired effect (Cornelia Faulde 2022).