'Individual' versus conjoint therapy

The pragmatic test of whether a troubled couple should be treated by an approach oriented toward intrapsychic problems or by an approach with an interpersonal focus lies in the couple's perception of their difficulties. If intrapsychic difficulties are egosyntonic and experienced primarily at an interpersonal level, that is the level at which treatment must be done. To the extent that each of the marital partners has a differing goal for treatment, different levels of treatment, including individual therapy for both, must be available after an adequate trial of dealing with the couple as a unit.