Couple Counselling

Synopsis

COU306 Couple Counselling aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to function as couple counsellors. The course content covers local marriage trends, marriage archetypes and core marital counselling knowledge and skills. Students will gain an understanding of the characteristics and needs of early-risk populations such as young couples, transnational couples, and an understanding of various evidence-based marital interventions that could be applied to the local context.

Level: 3
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: EVERY JAN

Topics

Marriage trends in Singapore
Working with different marriage archetypes
Dimensions of marriage and dynamics of a couple system
Challenges in marriages: financial inadequacy and management
Challenges in marriages: family planning and infertility, managing in-laws
Couple communication
Conflict, conflict resolution and forgiveness in relationships
Understanding and dealing with infidelity
Marriage recovery (e.g. using Discernment Counselling)
Key therapies: Gottman Couples Therapy
Emotionally-focused Couples Therapy
Integrated Model for Couples Therapy

Learning Outcome

Present different marriage archetypes and local marriage trends, and explain the dimensions of marriage - gender differences, effects of race and culture, psychological tasks.
Discuss the dynamics of a couple system and challenges in marriage.
Examine couple communication, conflict management and resolution.
Explain an approach to facilitating marriage recovery in situations of infidelity.
Describe approaches and techniques in working with couples.
Demonstrate skills in counselling with couples.

Part-time Programmes

Singapore University of Social Sciences

Couple Counselling