Processing Trauma and Addiction through Congruence Couple Therapy

Abstract

The literature has shown a clear connection between trauma and addictive disorders, including problem gambling. However, most treatment methods for addiction and trauma are individually based. The purpose of this study is to examine and describe how Congruence Couple Therapy (CCT) addresses trauma and addiction within the couple therapy context. The case study design allowed an in-depth secondary analysis of transcripts of two couples with problem gambling who underwent CCT. The five themes that emerged from the thematic analysis revealed how CCT works with couples on both trauma and addictions: (1) Building the foundation for couple therapy: Therapeutic alliance; (2) Understanding gambling patterns and building the timeline of addictions; (3) Connecting addiction with life-stressors, trauma, and childhood wounding; (4) Exploring trauma within the context of relationships; and (5) Healing from trauma and addiction through re-connection with self and others. Study limitations and recommendations for future research were discussed.