Psychiatria pre prax 4/2011

Ambivalence within long-term unsatisfactory partner relationship and inspiration in adictology

The paper focuses on a model and a psychotherapeutic method for clients with a significant problem regarding long-term ambivalence within their partner relationship. A model of a motivation to change one’s behaviour, frequently used in Adictology, is offered as a theoretical framework for understanding this issue. After a method is presented – the method could be used, after particular modification, for the assessment of ambivalence and for the improvement of cognitive outlooks at various aspects of ambivalence. At present, mentioned model and method are only hypothesis based on a limited amount of therapeutic experiences. Therefore, a critique is needed as well as further testing by means of a suitable methodology in practise.

Keywords: partner relationship, ambivalence, stages of feeling, motivation, breaking-up a relationship, adictology, cognitive behavioral therapy.