Couples therapy as intention: A flexible approach to treatment

ABSTRACT Contemporary psychoanalytic couples therapy technique may commonly include individual sessions in the course of treatment. Informed by a couples therapy case that required flexible adaptations, this paper proposes that including a substantial course of individual sessions may still make up a couples therapy. When navigating ambiguity and making adaptations as required by this case, a guiding principal is development. The paper considers theoretical factors relating to this expansion of technique and other adaptations, and possible consequences.