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The purpose of this article is to describe the rationale and methods of couple-based interventions designed to treat and prevent intimate partner violence. Cognitive, affective, and behavioral individual and couple risk factors for violence are reviewed, as are therapeutic concerns regarding the use of conjoint treatment. Current conjoint treatments that are intended to reduce the incidence of abusive behavior among couples in which one or both partners have engaged in forms of psychological and/or mild to moderate physical aggression, do not engage in battering or severe violence, and desire to improve their relationships and stay together are described. We focus on our Couples Abuse Prevention Program (CAPP) that compares the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral couple therapy procedures and treatment as usual at a university-based couple and family therapy clinic. Outcomes from the CAPP project and evaluations of the other programs demonstrate the potential of judiciously applied conjoint interventions for aggressive behavior in couple relationships.

This study examined effects of cognitive-behavioral couple therapy (n = 25 couples) and a variety of systems-oriented couple therapy models (n = 30 couples) in reducing negative attributions and degrees to which decreases in negative attributions were associated with improvements in other aspects of relationship functioning. Couples seeking treatment at a university clinic and experiencing psychological and/or mild-to-moderate physical abuse completed 10 weekly sessions. Attributions, relationship satisfaction, psychological abuse, communication, and negotiation were assessed before and after treatment. Women and men in both treatments exhibited decreased negative attributions, which moderated increases in satisfaction and decreases in negative communication, as well as increases in positive communication for men. The findings reinforce the importance of modifying negative attributions when intervening to reduce abuse.

As rates of separation and divorce among African Americans increase exponentially, development of effective treatment approaches for this population is particularly essential. Cognitive-behavioral treatment approaches targeting African American couple relationships by necessity must consider several risk factors specific to these couples, including experiences of racism and economic stress, as well as incorporate cultural resources and supports that may render these couples resilient to these stressors. In an attempt to foster cultural competence in the application of cognitive-behavioral approaches in treating distressed African American couples, this article reviews current research on the impact of culture-specific stressors and resources on African American couple relationships; discusses strategies for addressing biases, power, and privilege issues among therapists and clients; and highlights newer integrative treatment approaches and strategies for their potential in addressing diversity.

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