ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on two primary areas of functioning that may be severely challenged in childhood trauma survivors and that play a significant role in the difficulties that survivors have in developing and maintaining strong couple relationships. These areas, namely emotional regulation and mentalization, can also significantly impede the process and success of couple therapy. Mentalizing is an essential capacity to enter into and maintain a healthy romantic relationship. It enables partners to acknowledge and take responsibility for themselves in relationships, to have empathy and compassion for one another, to be vulnerable and open, and to have safe and clear boundaries. Psychoeducation provides a first step to building these capacities through providing a context, an externalization and a joint enemy that the couple can fight together. Helping couples understand the impacts of childhood trauma in areas including sense of self, memory, emotion regulation, trust, and closeness can help normalize the problems and help them begin to feel less ashamed and angry.