Research Proposal: Couple Counselling and Relationship Stability

This research proposal, based on a case study of a lesbian couple, Kathleen and Lisa, investigates the effectiveness of couple counselling in enhancing communication, relationship satisfaction, and stability. The study highlights the problem of poor communication and decision-making in relationships, leading to conflict and potential separation. The research aims to address the question: 'Is couple counselling effective in improving couple communication process, achieving relationship satisfaction and improving relationship stability?' A qualitative, survey-based research design is proposed, involving couples who have undergone couple counselling. The survey will gather data on their experiences, including the duration of their relationship, reasons for conflict, and outcomes related to communication, satisfaction, and issue resolution. A literature review supports the importance of communication, commitment, and shared interests in successful relationships, while also acknowledging the negative impacts of poor communication and lack of intimacy. The research will contribute to expanding the scope of couple counselling and identifying improvements needed to stabilize relationships. References from various sources have been included.

Running head: SOCIOLOGY
Sociology
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author’s note

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Introduction:
Healthy couple relationships are essential for a healthy society and positive health and
well-being outcomes. However, any form of discord between couples lead to instability and poor
health outcome. Dilemmas related to loss of loyalty and achieving balance in a relationship is a
common issue leading to divorce and separation (Schofield et al., 2012). However, the
emergence of couple counselling has emerged as a boon for couples as the experts give couples
the right direction to come to a relationship union. This paper uses the case study of ‘Social
Work Research: Couple Counselling’ to identify the problem statement and frame a research
question based on which research can be conducted. The case study is about Kathleen and Lisa, a
lesbian couple living together for 15 years who are currently feeling ambivalent about starting a
family together and having few arguments regarding it. By visiting an outpatient counselling
agency, the couple were able to identify their strengths and achieve stability in their relationship.
Considering the issue presented in the case study, the main purpose of this research proposal is to
explore how couple counselling is beneficial in improving communication process between
couples and achieving stability in life.
Problem statement:
The case study on Kathleen and Lisa highlights an important problem in close
relationship which includes lack of poor communication and ability to take decisions on matters
of interest. Effective couple relationship is dependent on relationship satisfaction and
commitment at the couple level. Communication is identified as one major factor that predicts
marital satisfaction and peaceful couple relationship. Mohlatlole, Sithole and Shirindi (2018)
argues that the apart from lack of intimacy, financial stress and marital infedility, lack of

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communication is one major cause behind rise in couple discord and divorce. The study by
Roddy et al. (2018) shows that difficulty with communication and the difference in endorsement
of trust and spending time together result in relationship problem. Hence, good communication is
an important part of a healthy relationship and identifying the methods by which impaired
communication process affects stability in relationship can help to deal with conflicts.
Based on the review of research papers, it has been found that couples are now turning to
couple counselling or online counselling to get clue regarding ways to resolve relationship
conflict. Based on the above research problem stated, it can be explored how far couple
counselling has emerged as a solution to resolve problems in couple’s life. Research in this area
would be useful to expand the scope of couple counselling and identify improvement in expertise
needed to stabilize relationships.
Research questions:
The main goal of couple counselling is to bring out the best in partners and strengthen the
quality of their relationship. Through couple counselling, couples get to discover themselves by
improving the communication process and promoting shared decision making for important life
decisions. To explore more about the topic, the research question for the task is as follows:
 Is couple counselling effective in improving couple communication process, achieving
relationship satisfaction and improving relationship stability?
Research design:
To get answers to the research question, survey based qualitative research design will be
selected to investigate about the research topic. The research will be done with those couple who

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have taken part in couple counselling at least once in their life and all will be surveyed regarding
their experience in taking part in the couple counselling sessions. The survey question will
consist of 10 questions involving duration of relationship, reason for conflict, experience of
couple counselling and outcomes obtained related to communication improvement, relationship
satisfaction and resolution of issues after attending the counselling sessions. The outcome of
survey will be analyzed thematically and arranged in the form of different themes. Thematic
analysis will help to explore the common outcomes obtained for couples following couple
counselling.
Literature review:
In any relationship, satisfaction and stability are two common outcomes. This is
associated with psychological and physical health and well-being. Strong and stable relationship
do not happen by chance, they prosper based on the effort put by each individual. Good
communication skills, commitment and shared interest are some qualities based on which
relationship prospers and develop (Shafer, Jensen and Larson 2014). However, lack of display of
these skills lead to troubled relationship and high incidence of conflict. Review of research
literature revealed that apart from demographic factors of married couples, interpersonal factors
like openness, agreeableness and marital satisfaction has an impact on the life of married
couples. Interaction factors like communication and mutual factors are elements that create
suitable atmosphere for partners to express their feelings. On the contrary, unfamiliarity with
communication skills leads to delay in solving problems. Intimacy is also required at all levels to
establish good relationship with partners (Zaheri et al., 2016). Despite this, there are couples who
lead a stressful life because they fail to maintain the level of communication and trust in their
relationship.

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There are numerous evidences which show how couple discordance and chances of
separation and conflict is minimized through couple counselling. The study by Schofield et al.
(2012) investigated about the long and short term effectiveness of couple counselling by
assessing outcomes in those couple who attended relationship services. The review of outcomes
in partners revealed moderate effect size for improving relationship quality and communication
style of couple. However, the quality of the study was limited because of lack of approach to
randomly assign participants to different experimental groups. In addition, the research by
Kepler (2015) on impact of premarital and couples counselling gives the idea that marital
counselling is essential to address marital discord and enhance satisfaction level. Hence, when
social work practitioners plan interventions to address issues for couples, there focus should be
to support the attainment of a happy marriage and union and minimize any chance of separation
or divorce. The study revealed couple counselling to be beneficial for all participants taking part
in the counselling. The study also identified inadequate communication as one of the major cause
behind relationship conflict. However, future research must explore the relationship in more
details so that effective interventions in the area of marital counselling can be implemented.
Research evidence indicates that marital therapy has been explored in several ways.
Some of these therapies specifically targets communication styles whereas others target emotive
behaviour of couple. Williams and Anyawu (2017) gives the opinion that though conflict in
marriage is inevitable, however counselling is one intervention that encourage partner to be
accountable and resolve any conflict with maturity. Any irrational and self-limiting belief is
easily challenged through couple counselling. The research study by Hewison, Casey and
Mwamba (2016) supports that attendance in couple therapy is associated with decrease in
individual psychological distress and improvement in relationship satisfaction both for males and

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females. However, this study focused on assessing psychological quality of the study. In future,
there is a need to explore the impact of counselling therapy on other varied outcomes linked to
relationship quality.
Conclusion:
From the review of past research evidence, it has been found that lack of communication
and intimacy are two major factors that contribute to distress and troubled marital relationship.
However, review of solutions to address relationship conflict and its impact on couple stability is
understood from the review of outcomes following couple counselling. Studies gave evidence
regarding the effectiveness of couple counselling in improving communication, increasing the
rate of union and minimizing incidence of conflict. Despite this, the reliability of studies were
limited by poor research design or difference in outcomes obtained. The research proposal using
survey based research design can help to explore couple relationship outcome in more details and
identify innovative ways to resolve issues for married couple.

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References:
Hewison, D., Casey, P., & Mwamba, N. (2016). The effectiveness of couple therapy: Clinical outcomes
in a naturalistic United Kingdom setting. Psychotherapy, 53(4), 377.
Kepler, A. (2015). Marital Satisfaction: The impact of premarital and couples counseling. Retrieved
from: https://sophia.stkate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1472&context=msw_papers
Mohlatlole, N. E., Sithole, S., & Shirindi, M. L. (2018). Factors contributing to divorce among young
couples in Lebowakgomo. Social Work, 54(2), 256-274.
Roddy, M. K., Rothman, K., Cicila, L. N., & Doss, B. D. (2018). Why do couples seek relationship help
online? Description and comparison to in‐person interventions. Journal of marital and family
therapy.
Schofield, M. J., Mumford, N., Jurkovic, D., Jurkovic, I., & Bickerdike, A. (2012). Short and long-term
effectiveness of couple counselling: a study protocol. BMC public health, 12(1), 735.
Shafer, K., Jensen, T. M., & Larson, J. H. (2014). Relationship effort, satisfaction, and stability:
Differences across union type. Journal of marital and family therapy, 40(2), 212-232.
Williams, A., & Anyawu, K. (2017). RATIONAL EMOTIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY AS A
COLLABORATIVE STYLE IN RESOLVING MARITAL CONFLICTS. European Journal of
Social Sciences Studies.
Zaheri, F., Dolatian, M., Shariati, M., Simbar, M., Ebadi, A., & Azghadi, S. B. H. (2016). Effective
factors in marital satisfaction in perspective of Iranian women and men: A systematic
review. Electronic physician, 8(12), 3369.

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