Topic: Communication, Emotional Competency, Relationships
Target Population: Couples
Sector: Community-Based, Faith-Based
This program is for couples who are experiencing relationship issues and want to strengthen their connection.
Hope-Focused Couple Approach, also called Hope-Focused Couple Therapy, is a community-based program that is designed to help couples improve their marital relationship.
One study examined Hope-Focused Couple Approach that was delivered to two groups—one group had religious accommodations, and one group did not. Results at a 6-month follow-up demonstrated improvements in relationships for both groups with no significant differences between groups. Longer-term results of program outcomes have shown significant improvements in relational adjustment up to 10 years after program completion. Studies that use a comparison or a control group to evaluate the effectiveness of this program have not been conducted.
Hope-Focused Couple Approach intends to promote or help restore love, encourage couples to work on the relationship, and foster faith and confidence in a partner’s ability to change or regain motivation to continue working on the relationship. The intervention is tailored to meet the relational and religious needs and preferences of each couple. Sessions focus on the following:
Hope-Focused Couple Approach has been used extensively in the United States since its development in 1997.
This program may only be implemented by licensed mental health professionals, graduate students seeking a doctorate in mental health fields, members of the clergy, and relationship educators. Training videos are available for free at https://www.hopecouples.com/video-training-series
Considerations for implementing this program include recruiting suitable facilitators to deliver the program and ensuring they complete training, acquiring participant buy-in, locating a safe and private location to hold sessions, and offering child care.
The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
If you are interested in implementing Hope-Focused Couple Approach, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you! Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
Intervention sessions are 3 hours per week for 8 to 12 weeks; however, times can vary depending on individual needs.
Several books and guides are available for purchase. Free counselor resources are also available. Please visit https://www.hopecouples.com/counselors, or use details in the Contact section to learn more.
To move Hope-Focused Couple Approach to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least one evaluation with a strong study design should be performed that demonstrates positive effects lasting at least one year from the beginning of the program or at least six months from program completion.
The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu
You may also contact the Hope Couples Project by mail 1000 Regent University Drive, Classroom Building, Virginia Beach, VA 23464, phone 1-757-352-4488, email hopecouples@hopecouples.com, or visit https://www.hopecouples.com/contact-hope
Ripley, J. S., Leon, C., Worthington, E. L., Berry, J. W., Davis, E. B., Smith, A., ... Sierra, T. (2014). Efficacy of religion-accommodative strategic hope-focused theory applied to couples therapy. Couple and Family Psychology, 3(2), 83-98. https://doi.org/10.1037/cfp0000019
Ripley, J., Solfelt, L., Ord, A., Garthe, R. C., Worthington, E. L., & Channing, T. (2023). Short- and long-term outcomes of hope focused couple therapy. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 10(4), 271-288. https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000286
Burchard, G. A., Yarhouse, M. A., Kilian, M. K., Worthington, E. L., Berry, J. W., & Canter, D. E. (2003). A study of two marital enrichment programs and couples' quality of life. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 31(3), 240-252. https://doi.org/10.1177/009164710303100309
Jakubowski, S. F., Milne, E. P., Brunner, H., & Miller, R. B. (2004). A review of empirically supported marital enrichment programs. Family Relations, 53(5), 528-536. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0197-6664.2004.00062.x
Ripley, J. S., & Worthington, E. L., Jr. (2002). Hope-focused and forgiveness-based group interventions to promote marital enrichment. Journal of Counseling and Development, 80(4), 452-463. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2002.tb00212.x
Turner, P. (2007). Applying Hope-Focused Marriage Therapy to conflict resolution in marriage: Case study. The Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 26, 65.
Worthington, E. L., Berry, J. W., Hook, J. N., Davis, D. E., Scherer, M., Griffin, B. J., … Campana, K. L. (2015). Forgiveness-reconciliation and communication-conflict-resolution interventions versus retested controls in early married couples. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 62(1), 14-27. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000045
Worthington, E. L., Hight, T. L., Ripley, J. S., Perrone, K. M., Kurusu, T. A., & Jones, D. R. (1997). Strategic hope-focused relationship-enrichment counseling with individual couples. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 44(4), 381-389. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.44.4.381
Worthington, E. L., Ripley, J. S., Hook, J. N., & Miller, A. J. (2007). The hope-focused approach to couple therapy and enrichment. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 26(2), 132.
