Addressing Relationship Concerns in Individual Psychotherapy

Many clients in individual psychotherapy present with relationship concerns but are not joined in psychotherapy by the partner in the problematic relationship. To increase clients' motivation for and satisfaction with individual psychotherapy, therapists must offer interventions that meet the clients' specific needs. This article presents an assimilative integration that uses L. Luborsky's (1984) core conflictual relationship theme approach to psychodynamic psychotherapy as its dominant theoretical orientation. Ideas and techniques from J. M. Gottman's (1998 , 1999 ) sound marital house theory were integrated into the treatment to facilitate working through the client's core relationship conflicts. The integration proved useful in actively addressing relationship concerns within individual psychotherapy and in matching the client's readiness for change.