Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT) for Alcohol and Drug Addiction

Content Reviewed By:

Andrew McKenna - JD

SUD treatment executive, national news contributor & keynote speaker.

Navigation:

• Overview
• Why Is Behavioral Couples Therapy Important for People in Recovery?
• Why Is Behavioral Couples Therapy Important to Partners of People in Recovery?
• What Happens in Couples Behavioral Therapy?
• Does Behavioral Couples Therapy Work?
• Is Behavioral Couples Therapy Right for My Relationship?
• How Can I Find A Behavioral Couples Therapy Program?
• Find Rehabs That Allow Couple and/or Have Couples Marriage Counseling
• Additional Resources

Overview

Romantic relationships are often the earliest and most noticeable casualties of substance use disorder. In a cruel irony, the pain and trauma that these issues bring can cause people to cope by using alcohol and other drugs, creating a vicious cycle that perpetuates substance use and strengthens addiction even more. 

Behavioral couples therapy (BCT) has emerged as a necessary and increasingly viable component of substance use disorder treatment for people whose relationships have been impacted by addiction and related behavior. The process can be initiated during or after the patient’s treatment program to help them build a strong and solid foundation in their romantic partnership as they pursue recovery. It works for new couples as well as those who have been married for years. 

Why Is Behavioral Couples Therapy Important for People in Recovery?

In addition to helping to restore trust, respect, and forgiveness, and love to a relationship, behavioral couples therapy plays a vital role in a larger and more comprehensive relapse prevention approach. When someone is coming out of rehab, they’re counting on returning to a stable and loving environment where they’re respected and held accountable for their actions. 

For patients who are involved in romantic partnerships, it’s important that they feel safe and valued as they navigate recovery, and the same goes for their partners. If their relationship continues to be dysfunctional, it can directly threaten their mental health and daily routine, ultimately heightening the prospect of relapse. Everything is new and fragile, so the more stability a person can cultivate, the better it is for their long-term sobriety. 

Why Is Behavioral Couples Therapy Important to Partners of People in Recovery?

Partners of those who are battling addiction usually have their own relationship trauma that they have to navigate, not just for their own sake, but also for the sake of their significant other. Behavioral couples therapy allows them to express their feelings so they can effectively convey their problems, needs, expectations, and boundaries to their partner going forward. It’s a way for them to feel safe, valued, respected, and protected within the relationship, particularly if they’re living together. 

It’s natural for partners of recovering addicts to feel traumatized and downright scared for their health and well-being, depending on the circumstances of their relationship before entering treatment; behavioral couples therapy goes a long way to restore trust, instill boundaries, and improve communication. 

What Happens in Couples Behavioral Therapy?

Every couple’s therapy dynamic will vary, depending on their unique history, counseling needs, and relationship goals. There are, however, some universal goals that behavioral couples therapy aims to accomplish in its application.

Patients and their partners will work with a trained and experienced couples counselor to: 

• Develop and strengthen relationship factors conducive to abstinence
• Create a structure where abstinence is rewarded, recognized, and nurtured
• Identify the origins and triggers that can lead to relapse
• Help loved ones and partners understand their role in the recovery process 
• Develop a system of accountability or a “recovery contract” to which both parties can adhere

Does Behavioral Couples Therapy Work?

The reality of addiction is that it puts a lot in couples’ way on their path of reconciliation and mutual respect; however, behavioral couples therapy has been shown to be effective in improving relationships and helping couples rebuild their foundations. 

While it is a newer approach to couples therapy, it’s effective in helping partners identify and accept each other’s differences and change difficult patterns in the relationship. Research shows that BCT produces greater abstinence and better relationship functioning than typical individual-based treatment and reduces social costs, domestic violence, and emotional problems of the couple’s children. 

Is Behavioral Couples Therapy Right for My Relationship?

While behavioral couples therapy was originally intended for married or cohabitating couples, it can also help couples who are planning on staying together and building a life with one another. The most viable candidates include but are not limited to: 

• Couples who have a desired goal to work through their problem rather than go their separate ways
• Couples who are living together or planning on living together in the future
• Couples with children who also need to navigate these changes 
• Couples who are engaged or planning to get married

It’s important that both members of the relationship be willing to put in the necessary work to get the most out of this process. 

How Can I Find A Behavioral Couples Therapy Program?

If you’re seeking a behavioral couples therapy option as part of your overall addiction treatment, the admissions representatives at the facility you’re considering can help you explore your options and tell you about their resources. They may also be able to refer you to a partner therapist who can work with you during and after your treatment program. If you’re looking for BCT after treatment, talk to the team at your rehab center and see if you can obtain a referral as part of their aftercare resources. 

Find Rehabs That Allow Couple and/or Have Couples Marriage Counseling

Many rehabs offer counseling for couples and may incorporate Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT) as part of their treatment programs. Using our nationwide directory, you can explore rehab centers that allow couples to attend treatment together or provide marriage and couples counseling as part of their services, helping partners address addiction while strengthening communication, trust, and long-term recovery.

Additional Resources

• Alcohol and Drug Rehab Centers That Accept Couples
• Couples Rehab – Drug Rehabs that Allow Couples – An In-depth Guide
• Marriage – Couples Counseling Alcohol and Drug Rehab Centers
• Rehabs That offer Marriage/Couples Counseling – An In-depth Guide
• Love Me, Love My Vices – Study on How Substance Use Shapes Relationships