CASE STUDY: NON-MARRIED COUPLE ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS Overview It is critical for the counselor to understand the pressures that couples in the present climate are engaged in within the church and society. While personal research is important, valuable data can be gained from interacting with others and seeing the struggles from their perspective. When mental health professionals think of assessment, the DSM diagnoses comes to mind, however there are assessment items that can be gleamed from assessments that are not in the DSM. This assignment will allow students to use various assessments tools to help couples realize possible issues, but not excluding safety concerns, suicide, various elements of abuse and even possible domestic violence. Instructions Note that the formatting of the three Case Study papers will be very similar, but the writing outcomes will be very different due to the differing issues that a non-married couple, a married couple, and a family present. You will meet with one (1) non-married (never been married before) couple with no children (from this or previous relationships) for at least two sessions. Each session must last about an hour. The first session is the basic interview to build a rapport and to learn how the couple answers the 8/9 basic "C's" (Communication, Conflict Resolution, Commitment, Contract, Caring/Cohesion, Character, Culture, Children, and Church) in chapters 11-12 found in the Williams et al., book. The second session is when you will have them fill out short assessments that is available for you to print off from online. Note that this time is not for counseling purposes, but can be considered a brief "research platform" which you will use to gather data of current marital issues affecting the church and society. You will inform the couple that they will not be identified in any way, other than with basic demographics (age, race, etc.), pronouns (he, she, they, etc.), and titles (partner 1, partner 2), to maintain confidentiality. This Case Study is approximately 5-8 pages, not including title, abstract and reference pages. Current APA format must be followed (Cover page, Abstract, 1/2" indents at start of paragraphs, 1" margins, double-spacing, etc.). The paper must include at least 4-5 research references in addition to the course textbooks and the Bible (no more than two references can be from online sources/websites). Session 1 - Basic Couple Questions: These are just a few questions to guide your interview with the couple. This list is not exhaustive, so you will need to prepare more. Get started on the first session by covering the following questions (note: if a question[s] is/are not applicable to this particular couple, then seek to find other questions to replace it/them): What are their ages, and how long have they been together? How long did the couple date before making their relationship exclusive to each other? What birth order is the male (first-born, middle-child, etc.)? The female? (Communication) - When the couple talks with each other, does both of them feel heard? (Conflict Resolution) - What challenge(s)/issue(s) do they see impacting their relationship the most?

EDCO 820 (Conflict Resolution) - Which member of the couple seems most susceptible to the influence of the challenge(s)? (Conflict Resolution) - How does secular society seem to feel about the issue(s)? (Conflict Resolution) - How does secular media (TV, news, etc.) seem to feel about the issue(s)? (Conflict Resolution) - If applicable, how is the issue(s) portrayed on social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, etc.)? (Church) - What does the Church as a whole teach about the issue(s)? (Caring/Cohesion) - Do both members of the couple feel cared for and like he/she is an important part of the relationship? (Character) - As far as the couple can tell, do they respond well to each other's personality characteristics? (Character) - Is the couple contending with any physical illnesses? (Children) - What is each of their views on having children (when, how many, etc.)? (Contract) - What is their view about how work around the house (cleaning, yardwork, etc.) should be divided up between them? (Contract) - What is their view about how finances should be handled (e.g., paying bills, balancing checkbook, etc.)? What are they doing to "fight back" against the outside influence(s) on their relationship? (Church) - Are there any other couples they know that are dealing with the same issue(s) they face, or that they believe could be dealing with the same issue(s)? (Church) - Are there any Scriptures they use to remind themselves what God says about those issue(s)? Session 2 For the second session, you will need to be prepared by making two copies (1 for each partner) of both of these short assessments found at this location in pdf handbook. Use the appropriate links in the Case Study: Non-Married Couple Assignment Resources section of the assignment prompt to download the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Measures Package Process measures of potential relevance to ACT PDF. Once you have downloaded the document, scroll down to the assessment, The Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) (pp. 82-84). Print two copies for the couple to fill out independent of each other. Note that instructions for scoring and interpreting the MAAS is found in the handbook you will download as a pdf document. As with the MAAS assessment you will also need to find the Emotion Control Questionnaire (pp. 20-23) and print out two copies. Note that instructions for scoring and interpreting for the ECQ is found in this handbook pdf. Keep good notes of the above so you can accurately cite and reference them in your paper. Note: It is a good idea to cover the actual title of the assessment and to "blank it out" so that the responders do not skew their answers based on what the title seems to be saying to them. Also, have the couple fill out the assessments separately and do not allow them to consult with each

EDCO 820other for an answer. This can also skew the final results. These are just suggestions. If you are already a trained facilitator have a good dating couple/pre-marital assessment, such as PREPARE, SYMBIS, etc., then you can use that in place of these. However, you must take care to explain the results in your paper fully. Observation is a key component of any assessment, and valuable data can be gained as you watch the couple respond to your questions together and individually. Make sure to observe the following verbal/non-verbal behaviors since you will be writing about them in your paper: Who seems to do the majority of the speaking (have the most power in the relationship)? If problems are talked about, who seems to be the first to volunteer the information? How does the other person seem to react with the other partner taking the lead? Who seems to be the most comfortable with the sessions? The least comfortable? Which of the partners seems to ask the most questions of you? Do the partners seem to support each other in their responses? Do you see any scapegoating? Are there any boundary issues (enmeshed, engaged, or disengaged) observed? How is intimacy expressed by this couple? Are there any judgmental words used. If so, which ones and by whom? Are there any supportive words used. If so, which ones and by whom? Required format of the paper (separate each main section in current APA format headings: Level 1 - centered and in bold, except for the title of the paper, which is centered but not in bold). ===========================[Paper Instructions]========================== Case Study: Non-Married Couple with No Children This paper is to be developed using proper APA formatting. There is a sample paper provided for you to read through carefully. The sample paper is for a Case Study One: Non-married Couple, yet all of the case paper formats are the same. Remember that the sample papers may or may not use the same assessments you are required to use in your case study papers. However, to remind everyone, an APA paper will have all necessary elements, properly formatted cover page, abstract page, body of the paper using the outline below as your guide, and reference page(s). Since all of you have completed advanced degrees, good graduate level writing will be expected. Proof-read your work well before submitting. In one or two introductory paragraphs, introduce the couple and give their basic demographics from Session 1. Do not give a lengthy description of the first session, only the basic demographics. After your title and introduction paragraphs as described above, use the rest of these directions as the outline format of your paper. What I mean is, allow the Sessions Action Plan be a level one and then your next heading, Analysis be a level two heading and so on. If you scroll down these directions you will notice that Method, and the three headings below it, are level three. If you have questions about proper levels for APA papers, please see the sample paper found under Course Content or your APA Publication Manual to make sure you format them properly. Session Action Plan

EDCO 820Provide a short introductory paragraph to this section. In this introductory paragraph, you must write a sentence in bold font describing what you believe is the most problematic/troublesome issue for this couple. The action plan must cover the following three areas (show as level 2 headings: flush left and bold). The first four subheadings (level 2 headings below) must be 1-2 paragraphs (subheading 4 has several level 3 subheadings to it): Analysis Seek to answer these questions: from your interview, explain the strategies, options, and alternatives that the couple has tried to do, or has put in place to help resolve their most troublesome issue. For example, have they had contact with a/their pastor, other church members, friends, family members, or professionals about the issue? Has their pastor/church ever spoken about the issue? What key observations did you make during your interview with this couple? Elaborate on the verbal/non-verbal behaviors presented by the couple. Evaluation In this section, spend time explaining the results of the assessments taken by the couple. What were the results of each test taken by both individuals? Since there are five short assessments, you will have about 10 scores to discuss. Divide them up by assessment and scores to make it easier for the reader to see what you learned. Summation. In this short section (one or two paragraphs), bring the information from both your interview session and the scores from your assessment session together into an understandable explanation for you couple. This is important for you and your reader. This answers the "so what question". What does all of this mean or indicate for the couple you are working with? Do the assessments help you and your reader understand the couple better? Creating Working from a Christian counselor's viewpoint, propose a biblically-based response to the issue that will directly assist the couple to work through the identified issue. Write 2-3 sentences under this subheading to introduce the application (below) of your action plan. Then, show the next four subheadings below as level 3 (1/2" indent, bold, with paragraph starting on the same line). Method. In one paragraph, introduce your reasoning for choosing the method you would use with the couple (e.g., the counseling orientation, program or tools used, working with this couple in the home over several sessions; as a seminar done on a Wednesday or Sunday night, over several weeks as formal counseling sessions or as an in-home Bible study; done in small groups; done as one large topical group, having an older couple mentor them, etc.). Scriptural and Counseling Support. In the first paragraph, provide specific scriptural support for the method you will use with this couple. Follow that with a second paragraph providing academic/research support (books, articles, etc.) for your proposed method. Concentrate on academic resources; do not use more than two websites. Time-frame. In one paragraph, provide an estimated time-frame for how long the method you chose will last, and a timeline of what would happen during the method. If it is one session, break it down to what will be accomplished in that session, or over several sessions using the chosen method (what each session would be designed to accomplish). Desired Outcome. In the first short paragraph, analyze the possible positives and negatives of your proposal. What is the desired outcome, in the best-case scenario? In the second short paragraph, describe a poorer/negative outcome, and what would be the way you could follow-up with the couple?

EDCO 820Conclusion Use this last section to wrap-up with a several sentence overview explaining each of the above sections. Follow that with several sentences listing other possible research/counseling practice needs as they relate to the dating couple's issue. Also list two-to-three kinds of books, journal articles, trainings, etc., that would be helpful for all counselors who are dealing/may deal with this issue.