Currently, there are books on IBCT for therapists and couples and an online version of IBCT called OurRelationship. There are videotaped illustrations of IBCT available from the American Psychological Association. Finally, there is a growing body of empirical literature demonstrating the effectiveness of IBCT and OurRelationship.
The most recent version of our book for therapists is Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy: A Therapist’s Guide to Creating Acceptance and Change. This book describes the theoretical and empirical underpinnings of IBCT, a standard IBCT treatment protocol, and many illustrative examples from couples in treatment. The most recent version of our book for couples is Reconcilable Differences. It is a self-help book that is intended for couples to read while in therapy.
Bibliography for IBCT and the OurRelationship Program
Treatment Manual for IBCT
Christensen, A., Doss, B. D., and & Jacobson, N. S. (2020). Integrative behavioral couple therapy: A therapist’s guide to creating acceptance and change (2nd ed). New York: W. W. Norton. This is a revision of Jacobson and Christensen (1998). Acceptance and change in couple therapy. New York: Norton.
Self-Help Book on IBCT
Christensen, A., Doss, B. D., & Jacobson, N. S. (2014). Reconcilable differences (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press. This is a revision of Christensen & Jacobson (2000). Reconcilable Differences. New York: Guilford.
Online Intervention Based on IBCT
Research on IBCT and the Online OurRelationship Program
Atkins, D. C., Berns, S. B., George, W., Doss, B., Gattis, K., & Christensen, A. (2005). Prediction of response to treatment in a randomized clinical trial of marital therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 893-903.
Atkins, D. C., Dimidjian, S., Bedics, J. D., & Christensen, A. (2009). Couple discord and depression in couples during couple therapy and in depressed individuals during depression treatment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77,1089–1099.
Atkins, D. C., Eldridge, K., Baucom, D. H., & Christensen, A. (2005). Infidelity and behavioral couple therapy: Optimism in the face of betrayal. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 144-150.
Baucom, B. R., Atkins, D. C., Simpson, L. E., & Christensen, A. (2009). Prediction of response to treatment in a randomized clinical trial of couple therapy: A 2-year follow-up. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77, 160-173.
Baucom, B. R., Atkins, D. C., Simpson, L. E., & Christensen, A. (2015). Prediction of treatment response at 5-year Follow-up in a Randomized Clinical Trial of Behaviorally Based Couple Therapies. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 83,103-14.
Baucom, B. R., Sheng, E., Christensen, A., Georgiou, P. G., Narayanan, S. S., & Atkins, D. C. (2015). Behaviorally-based couple therapies reduce emotional arousal during couple conflict. Behavior Research and Therapy, 72, 49-55.
Baucom, K. J. W., Baucom, B. R., & Christensen, A. (2015). Changes in dyadic communication during and after integrative and traditional behavioral couple therapy. Behavior Research and Therapy, 65, 18-28.
Baucom, K. J. W., Sevier, M., Eldridge, K. A., Doss, B. D., & Christensen, A. (2011). Observed communication in couples 2 years after integrative and traditional behavioral couple therapy: Outcome and link with 5-year follow-up. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 79, 565-576.
Benson, L. A., Doss, B. D., & Christensen, A. (2018). Online intervention for couples affected by generalized anxiety disorder. European Journal of Counselling Psychology, 7, 1-13.
Benson, L. A., Sevier, M., & Christensen, A. (2013). The impact of behavioral couple therapy on attachment in distressed couples. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 39, 407-420.
Christensen, A. (2010). A unified protocol for couple therapy. In K. Hahlweg, M. Grawe-Gerber, & D. H. Baucom (Eds.). Enhancing couples: The shape of couple therapy to come (pp 33-46). Göttingen: Hogrefe.
Christensen, A. & Doss, B. D. (2017). Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy. Current Opinion in Psychology, 13, 11-114.
Christensen, A., Atkins, D. S., Berns, S., Wheeler, J., Baucom, D. H. & Simpson, L. E. (2004). Traditional versus Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy for Significantly and Chronically Distressed Married Couples, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72, 176–191.
Christensen, A., Atkins, D. C., Yi, J., Baucom, D. H., & George, W. H. (2006). Couple and individual adjustment for two years following a randomized clinical trial comparing traditional versus integrative behavioral couple therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74, 1180–1191.
Christensen, A., Atkins, D. C., Baucom, B., & Yi, J. (2010). Marital Status and Satisfaction Five Years Following a Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Traditional Versus Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78, 225-235.
Christensen, A. & Glynn, S. (2019). Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy. In B. H. Fiese (Editor-in-Chief) APA Handbook of Contemporary Family Psychology: Vol. 3. Family Therapy and Training (pp.275-290). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Cordova, J. V., Jacobson, N. S., & Christensen, A. (1998). Acceptance versus change interventions in behavioral couple therapy: Impact on couples’ in-session communication. Journal of Marriage & Family Counseling, 24, 437-455.
Doss, B. D., Benson, L. A., Georgia, E. J., & Christensen, A. (2013). Translation of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy to a web-based intervention. Family Process, 52, 139-152.
Doss, B. D., Cicila, L. N., Georgia, E. J., Roddy, M. K., Nowlan, K. M., Benson, L. A., & Christensen, A. (2016). A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Web-Based OurRelationship Program: Effects on Relationship and Individual Functioning. Journal or Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 84, 285-296.
Doss, B. D., Knopp, K., Roddy, M. K., Rothman, K., Hatch, S. G., & Rhoades, G. K. (under review). Online programs improve relationship functioning for distressed low-income couples: Results from a nationwide randomized controlled trial.
Doss, B. D., Roddy, M. K., Llabre, M. M., Georgia Salivar, E., & Jensen-Doss, A. (in press). Improvements in coparenting conflict and child adjustment following an online program for relationship distress. Journal of Family Psychology.
Doss, B. D., Roddy, M. K., Nowlan, K. M., Rothman, K. & Christensen, A. (2019). Maintenance of gains in relationship and individual functioning following the online OurRelationship program. Behavior Therapy, 50, 73–86.
Doss, B. D., Thum, Y. M., Sevier, M., Atkins, D. C., & Christensen, A. (2005). Improving relationships: Mechanisms of change in couple therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 624-633.
Gattis, K. S., Simpson, L. E., & Christensen, A. (2008). What about the kids?: Parenting and child adjustment in the context of couple therapy. Journal of Family Psychology, 22, 833-842.
Georgia Salivar, E. J., Roddy, M. K., Nowlan, K. M., & Doss, B. D. (2018). Effectiveness of the OurRelationship program for underserved couples. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 7, 212-226.
Georgia Salivar, E.J, Rothman, K., Roddy, M.K., & Doss, B.D. (Online First) Relative cost effectiveness of in-person and internet interventions for relationship distress. Family Process.
Jacobson, N. S., Christensen, A., Prince, S. E., Cordova, J., & Eldridge, K. (2000). Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy: An acceptance-based, promising new treatment for couple discord. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68(2). 351-355.
Marín, R. A., Christensen, A., & Atkins, D. C. (2014). Infidelity and behavioral couple therapy: Relationship outcomes over 5 years following therapy. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 3, 1-12.
Nowlan, K. M., Roddy, M. K., & Doss, B. D. (2017). The online OurRelationship program for relationally distressed individuals: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 6, 189-204.
Roddy, M. K., & Doss, B. D. (under review). Relational and psychological mechanisms of change in low income couples’ perceived health.
Roddy, M. K., Knopp, K., Georgia Salivar, E., & Doss, B. D. (under review). Maintenance of relationship and individual functioning gains following online relationship programs for low-income couples.
Roddy, M. K., Nowlan, K. M., Christensen, A., & Doss, B. D. (2016). Integrative behavioral couple therapy: Theoretical background, empirical research, and dissemination. Family Process, 55, 408-422.
Roddy, M.K., Nowlan, K. M., & Doss, B. D. (2017). A randomized controlled trial of coach contact during a brief online intervention for distressed couples. Family Process, 56, 835-851.
Roddy, M. K., Rhoades, G. K., & Doss, B. D. (under review). Effects of ePREP and OurRelationship on low-income couples’ mental health and health behaviors: A randomized controlled trial.
Roddy, M. K., Rothman, K., Cicila, L. N., & Doss, B. D. (Online First). Why do couples seek relationship help online? Description and comparison to in-person interventions. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.
Roddy, M.K., Rothman, K., & Doss, B.D. (2018) A randomized controlled trial of different levels of coach support in an online intervention for relationship distress. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 110, 47-54.
Roddy, M. K., Stamatis, C. A., Rothman, K., & Doss, B. D. (in press). Mechanisms of change in a brief, online relationship intervention. Journal of Family Psychology.
Sevier, M., Atkins, D. H., Doss, B. D., & Christensen, A. (2015). Up and down or down and up? The process of change in constructive couple behavior during traditional and integrative behavioral couple therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 41, 113–127.
Sevier, M., Eldridge, K., Jones, J., Doss, B., & Christensen, A. (2008). Observed communication and associations with satisfaction during traditional and integrative behavioral couple therapy. Behavior Therapy, 39, 137-150.
Simpson, L.E., Doss, B.D., Wheeler, J., & Christensen, A. (2007). Relationship violence among couples seeking therapy: Common couple violence or battering? Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 33, 270-283.
Simpson, L. E., Atkins, D. C., Gattis, K. S., & Christensen, A. (2008). Low-level relationship aggression and couple therapy outcomes. Journal of Family Psychology, 22,102-111.
Wimberly, J. D. (1998). An outcome study of integrative couples therapy delivered in a group format [Doctoral dissertation, University of Montana, 1997]. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 58(12), 6832B.