Play in Couples Counseling

Abstract

Recent couple counseling research has identified the common factors in long-term relationships. With this increased understanding of common factors, couple counselors can focus on interventions that affect common factors to improve couple relationships. Researchers have found the focus on improving common factors in couple relationships is effective in improving couple stability and satisfaction. Although researchers have not considered couple play as an intervention to affect common factors, couples counselors and theorists have proposed a strong relationship between play and successful, long-term couple relationships. The research on adult play and humor also support the possibility for couple play as an intervention in couples counseling. The possible positive effects of couple play on common factors and implications for interventions are discussed.