Behavioral Couples Therapy for Substance Use Disorders: Recommendations for Implementation - Journal of Addiction and Psychology

In Behavioral  Couples  Therapy  (BCT)  is  a  theoretically-based,  manualized,  and  an  empirically  supported  treatment  based  on  social  learning  theory  which  posits  that  distressed  couples  engage  in  interaction  patterns  characterized  by  punishment  rather  than mutual positive reinforcement behaviors. BCT was originally designed for a marital family model of general psychotherapy; however, in the past 4 decades, BCT has proven to be effective for the treatment of conjoint alcoholism and substance abuse. Despite empirical  data  demonstrating  positive  outcomes  with  this  population,  BCT  has  not  been  widely  accepted  in  community-based  alcoholism and drug abuse treatment. Implementation of new treatments, like BCT, often fail due to a lack of careful consideration as to whether the necessary resources, timing, and commitment of staff and management are present to launch the treatment process into action for full operational execution. A successful implementation process requires a cultural shift within and throughout the agency. Recommendations for implementation of BCT for community-based agencies are presented along with several reasons why implementation often fails.

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