Introduction
The most difficult and painful thing in a marriage is conflict. When the needs and desires of the couples are incompatible, especially in finances, it results in a conflict of interest. As stated in Proverbs 21:20, one of the most common causes of marital discord is an imbalance of financial resources (King James Bible, 2017). Rick and Louann are a 41-45-year-old married couple raising their four children together. Although they are living together, the couple is having some difficulties. Based on the PCA results, Rick and Louann are classified as a conflicted couple (PREPARE/ENRICH, 2020). Communication and problem-solving difficulties are common in this type of relationship. The couple should be counseled on the best course of action based on the case study findings. This paper will examine the background, strengths and weaknesses, personalities, and an action plan.
Background Information
Rick and Louann make up a middle-aged couple in their early 40s. In addition to being college graduates and professionals in their respective fields, they are both Protestant Christians. Therefore, it is critical to learn how deeply committed the couple is to their Christian faith and how they express that faith in their daily lives (PREPARE/ENRICH, 2020). Both Rick and Louann have full-time jobs, but Louann is a religious leader who works part-time. It is a common thing that those who are employed full-time often have difficulty striking a work-life balance. Rick’s full-time job would make it difficult for him to achieve all of his business and family goals effectively. As a result, learning more about the couple and their relationship is essential.
The information about the patient’s earnings, marital status, and birth position in the family is critical to understanding the client. Rick’s income ranges from $50,000 to $74,999, while Louann’s ranges from $30,000 to $39,999. The way a couple handles their finances can stir conflict in their union. In addition, the couple has been married once before and has decided they do not want any more children. Although they are both firstborns, Rick comes from a large family, while Louann comes from a small one. Birth order personality types describe firstborns as responsible, competitive, and conventional. It is important to know how the couple’s birth order position influences their relationship. As a result, knowing a little bit about the couple’s history is helpful.
The Key Areas of Concern
Strengths
The most important strength and area of concern is the shared faith. Rick and Louann are all Protestants and go to church every Sunday. To have a happy marriage, King (2019) asserts that religion play an integral role. It is easier for couples with shared religious beliefs to talk about their issues and use scriptures to foster solutions. Spirituality is an area where Rick and Louann have a lot of positive feelings about their relationship, and they identify many strengths in this area (PREPARE/ENRICH, 2020). Religion is at the heart of their commitment to each other. They should focus on their shared spiritual beliefs to strengthen their relationship.
Financial management is also a strength and an important area of concern. Financial management is an area in which the couple has a lot of common ground. However, it is expected that the couple will argue over their spending habits, savings, and financial decisions because of their income disparity. In Proverbs 21:20, the scripture claims that a relationship may be damaged by financial issues (King James Bible, 2017). As shown in the case, they all care about how the other partner manages money. For example, when it comes to deciding how much money to save, Rick is not happy with their decisions. To improve their relationship, they should discuss some aspects of financial management.
Family and friends are a source of strength for the couple. Individual contentment with close friends and family is assessed in the PREPARE/ENRICH category by looking at how each partner sees the other’s close friends and family (PREPARE/ENRICH, 2020). Rick and Louann are both equally enthusiastic about their relationship. However, they are cognizant of a number of challenges that must be overcome. Despite their mutual admiration, the two are deeply concerned about their family and friends. On the other hand, Louann is concerned when her partner spends time with friends or co-workers. As a result, it is important to address the issues that have been raised about family and friends.
Weaknesses
In a marriage, ineffective communication is a potential source of conflict. To maintain an intimate relationship, they should respond to each other with sensitivity. They should ensure that they choose their words carefully to avoid misunderstanding. Couples’ attitudes toward their marriage’s volume and quality of communication are assessed in this program. Many people assume that better communication between couples leads to higher overall happiness levels. However, in this case, communication is marked as one of the areas in the family that has performed poorly (PREPARE/ENRICH, 2020). They seem to have a communication problem, which might be the source of their issues in the family. Therefore, communication is considered a major weakness in the couple.
In this case, Louann is pleased with their family’s communication, but she has some reservations about sharing her feelings and listening to one another. The quality of their family communication seems to be a source of concern for Rick, who believes they are deficient in this area. Both Rick and Louann are convinced that they are having difficulties communicating effectively at the moment (PREPARE/ENRICH, 2020). Louann believes that communication within the family is generally good but could improve their ability to express, communicate, and listen to one another. They both believe that others cannot express their feelings openly because they are afraid of being judged. Because of this, it is detrimental to a happy marriage when a couple’s communication is riddled with worries.
Personalities
The five characteristics of the SCOPE are: social, adaptable, organized, aesthetically pleasing, and emotionally stable. Individual and personality assessments cannot be understood without understanding these characteristics. A person’s chances of recovery can be predicted based on their SCOPE personality assessments, which Rick and Louann have completed together. Many different aspects of one’s inner and outer life are influenced by one’s unique set of personality traits (Olson & Olsen, 2019). The majority of personality traits use a scale or variable-centered approach to examine how individuals differ on a single attribute.
Rick and Louann scored poorly in the area of social. The result shows that the family is not that social, although social interaction is essential to our well-being as humans. As a result of their more reserved personalities, both prefer to spend their free time alone. They avoid large social gatherings because they fear that they will cause more stress than joy. It is critical to have a solid network of friends and family to lean on for emotional and physical support as an adult. In addition, a lack of social interaction can cause mental health issues. Finally, a lack of social interaction can negatively affect a marriage. They should be encouraged to get out and socialize.
Change is an individual’s ability to adapt to a relationship. Louann and Rick scored low on change because they were resistant to introducing new concepts. Although they have a more practical outlook on life, they are not open to new ideas and perspectives. They may find the change difficult and stressful. In addition, the couple enjoys the familiar and the things they are used to in their daily lives. Making compromises in their marriage will strengthen their bond. Positivity can help a marriage grow and learn, and it can give a couple the confidence to take risks. On the other hand, inflexibility has a negative effect on family and partner relationships. A person’s health and well-being are negatively impacted due to their reluctance to accept change.
Having a high level of organization is a good indicator of a person’s ability to stay on task. As shown in Preparation/Enrichment (2020), Rick and Louann had strong personalities. Together, they are meticulous, goal-oriented, and disciplined enough to accomplish a number of long-term objectives. These people value routine and order in many aspects of their lives. If a couple has this trait in common, it might make it easier to communicate with one another. However, a high score on this dimension can negatively affect couples, such as becoming overly focused on achieving goals and prioritizing tasks over relationships. As a result, their desire for stability and planning may be put to the test by unexpected unpleasant events or life transitions.
Having a pleasant trait demonstrates how well people work together and treat each other with respect. Unfortunately, they are not very good at making each other happy, which explains why Rick and Louann do not get along. One of Rick’s strengths is his ability to connect with others and trust (PREPARE/ENRICH 2020). Louann, on the other hand, scored poorly on the pleasing scale. Although she is loving and cooperative, she can also be difficult and competitive. This helps explain the couple’s inability to communicate effectively and their divergent views on various issues. As a result, they should be advised on improving this quality to avoid conflict.
An emotional trait is an individual’s ability to remain calm and comfortable in difficult situations. Rick and Louann scored averagely because they are generally calm and able to handle stressful situations. There is a sense of calm and ease about the two of them, as evidenced by their high emotional attribute scores. Neglecting or ignoring their feelings and the feelings of those around them could have negative consequences on their behavior and outlook. An average score indicates that the couple is generally calm and able to cope with stress on a daily basis. As a result, they can become anxious and depressed when under a lot of stress.
Plan of Action
The couple’s problem can be solved through the use of cognitive theory. According to this theory, emotion and behavior are frequently influenced by one’s thoughts (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2018, p.204). Both Rick and Louann have issues with communication, dissatisfaction with their hobbies, and differences in how they interact with each other as a couple. Social, change and pleasing traits were among the couple’s lowest scores on the personality assessment. This counseling approach can help couples work through issues like poor communication. Detecting thoughts, confronting them, and replacing them with a more objective and realistic perspective can help Rick and Louann.
Since Rick and Louann are both Christians, cognitive therapy based on religion can also be used in this case. It can be helpful to use biblical teachings and ideas in the counseling process because the couple shares the same faith (Koenig, Al-Zaben & VanderWeele, 2020). Clients’ religious beliefs and insights are considered as part of the humanistic and cognitive approach. Proverbs 18:13 says, “It is folly and shame for one to give an answer before he hears” (King James Bible, 2017). The message can help the couple learn and apply the strategy of active listening to improve their communication. As a result, the problem can be resolved through biblically-based instruction.
There are many Bible verses that can be used to restore hope to the couple. One of the passages is Ephesians 5:33, “Do not give up if your marriage is afflicted by turmoil” (King James Bible, 2017). Having read the message, Rick and Louann should have a more realistic view of their marriage prospects, as they should be aware of their flaws and differences with one another. Alternatively, they can be persuaded to believe that a solution is within reach. The couple can be reminded of their commitment to each other and the importance of not letting anyone else get in the way of their relationship. Matthew 19:16 says, “Let no man separate what God has joined together” (King James Bible, 2017). As a result, the goal is to eliminate conflicting views, create an environment that encourages open dialogue, and maintain a healthy and strong relationship.
I suggest that the couple should consider paying a visit to Your New Beginnings Counseling & Family Services. The facility’s location is 3101 Courtney Lane, Suite B, Killeen, TX 76542. Since its inception, it has provided top-notch faith-based counseling to individuals, families, couples, and children (Your New Beginning Counseling & Family Services, 2022). The facility can help solve various issues, namely depression, spiritual issues, poor school performance, and marriage problems. An entire family can benefit from the services provided by this facility during a trying time. Rick and Louann could benefit from the expertise of the counselors at this facility, as previous clients have expressed satisfaction with their work. In addition, the facility has well-trained staff and a welcoming atmosphere that can assist clients with their concerns.
The Empowerment Project, PLLC, is another facility that I would suggest to the couple because of their high-quality services. Despite the clinic’s establishment in 2020, it has been successful thus far. The location is 400 West Jasper Drive, Suite 105, Killeen, Texas 76542 (THE EMPOWERMENT PROJECT, PLLC, 2022). There are various counseling services available at the facility, including those for a wide range of mental health issues. Their staff is also comprised of qualified and licensed professionals who can assist clients in various circumstances. Christian therapists are also available for couples like Rick and Louann. The therapists and other members of the staff are warm and welcoming, and the setting is ideal for productive therapy sessions. Since the facility has therapists specializing in religion-based therapy, it is effective.
The couple can use various resources for their homework to work out their differences. Some of the PREPARE/ENRICH tools’ resources include learning and practicing skills and working through the ten phases of conflict resolution at home. For conflict resolution and communication improvement, this can be a useful strategy. After work, Rick and Louann can complete the ten-step Prepare/Enrich program for couples therapy. Another option is to create a memory book (Goodman, 2021). Accordingly, the resource can assist the couple in identifying and documenting factors that contributed to the problem. As a result, to deal with the situation, the couple can utilize a memory book and the ten steps to resolving conflict.
Rick and Louann can also benefit from role-plays during active listening and compliment-making exercises. Role-play help clients to learn that their own self is an integral therapeutic tool (Sude & Baima, 2020, p.16). Importantly, the couple may focus on everyday compliments that foster positive feelings toward one another. On a daily basis, the couple can agree to make sure they have said at least one compliment to one another. As a final point, couples should talk about each other in their relationships. Emotional expression fosters a culture of efficient communication where people can focus on each other’s feelings rather than their own. At the very least, Rick and Louann should set aside at least 30 minutes a day to reflect on their positive and negative aspects of one another and their areas of agreement and disagreement.
Application
I have learned a lot from the PREPARE/ENRICH program that will help me in my future work as a therapist. When it comes to my work, I have gained valuable insights, such as the relationship enrichment and improvement exercise that helps a couple to acquire knowledge and skills. With this information, I can now better understand the complexities and dynamics of relationships by examining the couple’s background, strengths, limitations, and personality differences. In addition, I am now able to provide objective feedback during therapy based on theories and models that are specifically relevant to the problem at hand. Finally, I believe that by fostering good communication and helping couples develop the necessary skills to improve their potential growth areas, I can provide couples with a deeper experience.
Conclusion
If Rick and Louann persist in resolving their marital issues, they will succeed. Couples who want to resolve their marital conflict must also put extra effort into marriage counseling sessions. The couple will benefit from putting the past behind them and looking forward to a bright future. It is good for them to take advantage of the available resources, such as homework help and therapy referrals. Praying and reading the Bible as a Christian family can give this couple the strength and hope to continue resolving issues in their marriage.
References
Goodman, A. (2021). 5 Thoughtful homework assignments for couples in therapy. Boston Couples Therapy. W
King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. Web.
King, P. E. (2019). Religion and identity: The role of ideological, social, and spiritual contexts. In Beyond the Self (pp. 197-204). Routledge.
Koenig, H. G., Al-Zaben, F., & VanderWeele, T. J. (2020). Religion and psychiatry: Recent developments in research. BJPsych Advances, 26(5), 262-272. Web.
Your New Beginning Counseling & Family Services. (2022). Your new beginning counseling & family services, Killeen, TX. Mysite. Web.
Olson & Olsen, (2019). PREPARE/ENRICH on Demand Promo Code (Custom ed.). Minneapolis, MN: Life Innovations, Inc.
PREPARE/ENRICH (2020). PREPARE/ENRICH Customized Version. Facilitator report. Web.
Sommers-Flanagan, J., & Sommers-Flanagan, R. (2018). Counseling and psychotherapy theories in context and practice: Skills, strategies, and techniques. John Wiley & Sons. Web.
Sude, M. E., & Baima, T. (2020). Training the self of the therapist through marriage and family therapy role-plays. International Journal of Systemic Therapy, 32(1), 23-40. Web.
THE EMPOWERMENT PROJECT, PLLC. (2022). The Empowerment Project, PLLC – Texas Company. Texas Company Directory. Web.