Comparison between the Efficacy of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Couple Therapies on Interpersonal Conflict Resolution of Married Couples: A Review of Literature

Description

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21350174

Asmita Palit, Swastika Sen, and Atreyee Bhattacharyya (Amity University of Psychology and Allied Sciences, Amity University Kolkata, West Bengal)

Conflict is a common part of marriage, but finding healthy ways to resolve it is the essence of a relationship’s survival. Different therapeutic approaches, such as CBT and other Couple Therapies, are used in helping a couple manage these interpersonal disputes. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in enhancing interpersonal conflict resolution within marital relationships when compared with couple therapy models. We performed a thorough methodological search on Google Scholar and reviewed available literature and selected eight research papers that were published within the span of 2018-2025 that directly investigated this comparison. Evidence from the research has revealed that both other Couple-therapy approaches (such as Behavioral Couple Therapy and Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are effective in reducing marital distress. While Cognitive Behavioral Therapy bestows us with organised tools that serve to identify and enhance maladaptive thought patterns and communication behaviors among partners, therapies like Behavioral Couple Therapy and Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy address the underlying causes of these maladaptive patterns. Therefore, numerous treatment plans incorporate both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and emotionally oriented therapies, as each targets different layers of relational dynamics. The findings have emphasized the point that both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other forms of couple therapy are necessary, since no single technique can capture the complexity of two dynamic individuals in a close, intimate relationship. The choice between the therapies may rely on the couple’s dynamic needs and preferences, which will provide strategies to allow a couple to construct a healthier relationship.