ABSTRACT
Having developed and practiced the vital self-capacities of emotion regulation and mentalizing that are critical for the well-being and success of couples receiving therapy, the therapist can then move to Stage 3 of Developmental Couple Therapy for Complex Trauma (DCTCT): dyadic processing in the attachment context. This stage is more skills based than previous stages, and increasingly process focused. This chapter elucidates how the therapist can help the couple learn how to share experiences from their traumatic pasts more deeply and establish connections they will then carry with them into their couple relationships. This chapter is divided into five distinct sections which focus on unique elements of dyadic processing, and the focus is kept on those receiving therapy. The author offers insights into the therapist’s experience throughout this stage of the therapeutic process and provides lists of suggested literature for further reading.
