Developmental Couple Therapy for Complex Trauma: Couple Groups in the Covid Context

This session is available for 3.00 APA and ASWB credits.

Abstract
This poster will describe the process of adapting the first two stages of Developmental Couple Therapy for Complex Trauma (DCTCT, MacIntosh, 2019) treatment into a virtual group couple format in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. The goal of the adaptation of the DCTCT model was to fill an important gap in service delivery options in the Quebec pandemic context that would be low a cost, accessible, and affordable intervention for couples who have experienced trauma and were struggling with the stress and trauma of COVID-19. This evidence-based intervention was specifically adapted to the new social realities imposed by COVID-19, and targeted multiple areas of distress for the most vulnerable members of Quebec society including members of equity seeking groups, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ persons and those residing in rural and remote areas of the province. Over the course of 18 months, the McGill Couple and Family Therapy Clinic provided 8 virtual DCTCT couple groups to trauma survivor couples, including a BIPOC. 2SLGBTQ+, Indigenous, francophone and English open groups. This poster will present findings of qualitative analyses of couple feedback as well as quantitative analyses of measures of emotion regulation, mentalizing, couple satisfaction, and trauma symptoms.