A positive couple therapy model: improving relationships for people with intellectual disabilities

Date16 September 2011
Published date16 September 2011
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/20441281111180646
Pages34-39
AuthorJ. Dale Munro
Subject MatterEducation,Health & social care
Practice
A positive couple therapy model: improving
relationships for people with intellectual
disabilities
J. Dale Munro
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss a model of couple intervention that has been
specifically developed for helping people with intellectual disabilities who are experiencing relationship
problems.
Design/methodology/approach – Among other suggestions, the model recommends assessing and
working not only with the couple, but also with extended family and the service system. An agency staff,
familiar with the couple, is frequently asked to act as co-therapist.
Findings – Private couple therapy sessions have proven extremely valuable, along with specific
strategies that focus on management of issues such as anger and jealousy, sexuality issues, ways
partners can complement and compensate for each other’s weaknesses, healthy boundary-setting,
having fun, and utilizing psychiatric consultation if necessary.
Originality/value – There is almost no other clinical literature on this topic. This paper offers practical
suggestions and is quite unique in the field.
Keywords Couples, Marriage, Intellectual disabilities, Love, Relationships, Counselling,
Therapy strategies, Service barriers, Therapists
Paper type Conceptual paper
Teenagers and adults with intellectual disabilities, often dream about finding love, moving in
together, getting married, and having children. Yet, for families and professionals, this topic
has always raised deep anxieties, confusion, and misunderstanding. The author believes that
no clinical work is as exciting and rewarding – or as potentially challenging – as counseling
and trying to improve the emotional functioning and relationships of couples with intellectual
disabilities. The purpose of this paper is to present an effective couple intervention model.
‘‘A couple’’ is defined as two peopleclosely associated, bonded or paired with eachother, at
least one of whom functions in the mild or moderate range of intellectual disability. A couple
can be a man and a woman – ora same-sex relationship – engaged, married, living together,
or in a committed love relationship.
The ‘‘positive support-couple therapy’ ’ model
Munro (2011) reviewed literature dating back as early as 1928 which suggested that many
couples with intellectual disabilities can have successful long-term marriages and love
relationships. Yet, couples with intellectual disabilities frequently report difficulties in finding
therapists willing to work with them. With this in mind, the author has developed an intervention
model that combines many of the best elements of established therapy approaches, with
PAGE 34
j
ADVANCES IN MENTALHEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
j
VOL. 5 NO. 5 2011, pp. 34-39, QEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282 DOI 10.1108/20441281111180646
J. Dale Munro is an
individual, couple and
family therapist with the
Redpath Centre, London,
Canada.
This paper is a revised version
of a chapter entitled ‘‘Couple
therapy for people with
intellectual disabilities:
a positive treatment model’’,
originally published in
Psychotherapy for Individuals
with Intellectual Disabilities,
edited by Robert J. Fletcher
and published by NADD Press,
2011. This version appears in
Advances in Mental Health and
Intellectual Disabilities courtesy
of NADD Press.

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