Introduction
Coping-oriented couple therapy (COCT; Bodenmann 2004) is a treatment model that emphasizes the role of stress communication and mutual support in couples. COCT posits that experiences of chronic minor stressors (i.e., inconveniences occurring on a day-to-day basis that may irritate partners over time) often trigger unpleasant behaviors in partners, which can then give rise to relationship tension. Thus, the goal of COCT is to help partners better understand their individual and joint stress reactions and learn to cope with daily stressors more effectively, which can significantly improve their relationship functioning and overall well-being.
Prominent Associated Figures
COCT was derived from Dr. Guy Bodenmann’s seminal work on couples’ stress and coping. Specifically, the systemic-transactional model of dyadic coping, which posits that romantic partners can engage in joint coping efforts to mitigate the deleterious effects of stress on their relationship (Bodenmann 1995, 2005...
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Lau, K.K.H., Tao, C., Randall, A.K., Bodenmann, G. (2019). Coping-Oriented Couple Therapy. In: Lebow, J.L., Chambers, A.L., Breunlin, D.C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_705
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_705
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