Abstract:

Despite established limitations in Cognitive-Behavioral Marital Therapy (CBMT)in counseling clients with emotional instabilities, CBMT remains the most popular model of marital theyapy in Ghana. This quantitative study intended to ascertain the impact of Cognitive-Behavioral Marital Therapy (CBMT) on marital distresses among married couples in Ghana. The study followed a descriptive-correlational-experimental design. 50 participants selected by means of a proportionate stratified random sampling technique completed adapted versions of the Session Process and Outcome Measures-Client version (SPOM-C) and the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS) questionnaires both before and after therapy. With the aid of the Predictive Analytics Software (PASW) 18 guide to Data Analysis, disparity mean values among the sample were analyzed. Data on the levels of marital distress were analyzed by descriptive frequencies. The paired t-test technique was used to analyze disparity mean values within the sample. Pearson correlation coefficient analyzed correlation between CBMT therapy outcome and the level of marital distress reported by participants. The study found that CBMT had a significant effect on participants who reported severe marital distress. This implies that CBMT is effective in treating clients who report severe marital distresses than those who report moderate or mild marital distresses in Ghana.

Keywords: Cognitive-Behavioral Marital Therapy (CBMT), Marital Distress, Married Couples, Marriage and Family Counseling, Marital Therapy.

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