Integration of Object Relations Theory and Trauma Theory in Couples Therapy with Survivors of Childhood Trauma, Part II: Clinical Illustrations

This is the second of two papers which examines the interface of object relations theory and trauma theory in couple therapy. The papers demonstrate how different treatment methods are informed by the object relations of the partners. In this paper, clinical examples of two couple therapies are put forward which illustrate the theoretical foundations discussed in the first paper entitled “Integration of Object Relations Theory and Trauma Theory in Couples Therapy with Survivors of Childhood Trauma, Part I: Theoretical Foundations.” There, the reviewed literature argued for the efficacy of integrating object relations theory with complex posttraumatic stress theory in the treatment of couples who had experienced childhood trauma. The papers integrate object relations theory with an adaptation of Herman's model (1992) of individual treatment of posttraumatic stress syndrome to the therapy of couples.