ABSTRACT
The events of the session may become like a snowball increasing in emotional volume steadily throughout the session. The couples therapist would like the crescendo to happen with enough time to process what has happened and for the couple to come to a calmer place. Minuchin and Nichols recount a case in which as the session comes toward the end, the couple is not communicating and is on the verge of a fight. Sometimes it may seem that one or both of the partners realize that there is not much time left in the session. The couple has spent time repeating themselves despite therapist's efforts to move things along. One partner has been uncooperative, blocking any progress. The couple has opened up issues, but nothing has come of it. There may be issues from earlier in the session that needs addressing. Plus there are any number of obstacles that can occur during this time.
