Bill is a computer technician who works for an internet commerce company, and he hates his job. Sarah is currently unemployed. Bill (39 years old) has been married to Sarah (42 years old) for approximately 1.5 years. This is Bill's second marriage, and it is Sarah's third long term relationship. Bill's previous marriage lasted all of a year and a half. He met and married a "nice lady" while staying at a luxury hotel in Las Vegas one weekend. Sarah has had 2 previous "live in" partners - her first boyfriend (from 21-25 years old) from college and a girlfriend about 2 years after her boyfriend (about 28-34 years old). Neither of them have children; however, they are starting to feel the need for progeny and passing on a familial legacy. They met at a co-ed Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meeting. Bill has had 10 years clean from Methamphetamine, and Sarah has had about 2 years clean from Coke and Methamphetamine. In seeking out their Higher Power, they have recently begun attending a local evangelical Christian church where they married.

Bill comes from a family of alcoholics. Both his maternal and paternal grandfathers have died due to alcohol related complications. Bill's parents have experienced serious conflict and violence. They have always been a working class family with big aspirations. They have lived on credit cards and refinancing their mortgages. However, they have also lost several houses and cars and several bankruptcies. They instilled in Bill the desire for financial independence, but they never taught him how to save money and live within his means.

Sarah was born into a family of violence as well. She was sexually molested by a distant relative when she was 12 years old. She witnessed several of her mother's boyfriends beat her (the mother). She has witnessed the incarceration of her mother (prostitution) and many of her boyfriends (Domestic Violence). She was taught to "do what she needed to survive."

They are initiating therapy due to a sever conflict that has been escalating in their lives. Sarah found a credit card statement with pornographic charges for which Bill knows nothing about. They want to be married; however, they are both hurt and confused. This conflict has been escalating. Both Sarah and Bill admit to increased yelling and arguing, including escalating name calling. The reach out for therapy after Bill throws the remote control through their TV.

Assignment Specifics:Students will utilize the outline provided in the Written Case Report for Couple Therapy attached in this module.

following headers: (1) Clinical Evaluation which should include (a) presenting problem, (b) assessment of the presenting problem, (c) observations, (d) Current DSM diagnosis, (e) Contextual and Systemic (Relational) Dynamics; (2) Crisis issues and stressors including (a) clear identification of substance related concerns, (b) assessment of risk factors for IVP, (c) socioeconomic challenges, and (d) how these effect the presenting problem (are related to the reason the couple is seeking treatment); (3) A specific theoretical model as presented in theClinical Handbook of Couple Therapyfocusing on (a) statement of the nature of couple problems (psychopathology from the model's perspective), and (b) a clear description of the model's theory of change, and (c) three interventions from the model; (4) A treatment plan based upon the model described in part 3 above including (a) beginning, (b) middle, and (c) late phase goals as well as one intervention per goal; (5) Discussion of ethical and legal challenges presented by the couple case, and (6) Diversity as relates to this client couple including (a) socioeconomic, (b) ethnicity, (c) gender, and (d) Christian spirituality and how these four aspects effect the therapeutic relationship and process.