Couples Therapy 2026 |
Study Guide, Practice
Questions, Answers,
Rationales & Exam Review
Updated Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
, What are the key components of mindfulness? -moment to moment awareness of one's experience without judgment
-key concepts: purposeful, nonreactive, attuned to the present moment
Know how mindfulness is cultivated by practicing mindful meditation
3 types of meditations 1. Focused Attention
2. Open Awareness
3. Loving-Kindness
the differences between the 3 types of meditations 1. focused-attention (focused awareness): focusing on your breath, notice
wanderings of the mind, non-judgmentally return your attention to your breath
2. Open Monitoring (open awareness): openness to sensations, thoughts, emotions;
attending fully to what is present
3. Loving-Kindness: holding our experience in a kind, loving way; developing
feelings of empathy and love for others (begins with self, extends to those we
dislike)
What has research taught us about the neurobiology of neurobiology of mindfulness- mindfulness promotes growth and development of
mindfulness, emotional regulation, and empathy? brain related to social/emotional intelligence
-according to 17 studies, meditators have increased volume and density in brains
compared to non-meditators
-randomized control treatments found short-term meditation caused structural
changes in the brain (changes in pre-frontal cortex)
***ADD MORE HERE
What do we know about mindfulness and its impact on -people vary in their ability to interpret intentions and motivations of others
couple relationships? -some pick up on cues, others oblivious
-brain does much of its processing of social intelligence without conscious
awareness (so relationship improvement may partly rely on changing the way the
brain automatically/unconsciously selects what to pay attention to and what to
ignore)
What are some of the reasons why mindfulness is related -mindfulness can help one notice and be aware of partner... -->
to improved relationships? -cumulative effect
Know the characteristics of satisfied partners and how -satisfied partners are more attentive to details of others world, more accurate in id
mindfulness is related to these characteristics. ing details about partners daily life, more aware when partner's make bids for
connection, notice positive behaviors during arguments, understand partners
reasoning-even when do not agree, avoid ruminating over negative events
-satisfied partners: regulate negative emotions during conflict, avoid "negative affect
reciprocity" (responding to expressions of negative affect with negative affect-->
strongest correlate to dissatisfaction worldwide)
-mindfulness relates to these because being mindful increases awareness and
ability to respond rather than react
. What is DPA and why is it related to more dissatisfied -DPA is the activation of the body's alarm system (inc. heart rate, inc. blood volume,
relationships? reduced oxygen, inc. adrenaline and cortisol, inc. amygdala activation, begins when
heart > 100 bpm)
-clear association between DPA and relationship dissatisfaction; husbands heading
for divorce-17bpm higher; DPA inhibits humor, creativity, empathy, and non-
defensive listening
how does mindfulness help with DPA -mindfulness practice- decreases sympathetic (fight or flight) activity CNS and
increases parasympathetic (rest and digest)
-emotion regulation- Prefrontal control systems regulate amygdala, exposure
(turning towards unpleasant physical sensations)
-disentangle negative emotions from thoughts
-promoting physical soothing
Study Guide, Practice
Questions, Answers,
Rationales & Exam Review
Updated Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
, What are the key components of mindfulness? -moment to moment awareness of one's experience without judgment
-key concepts: purposeful, nonreactive, attuned to the present moment
Know how mindfulness is cultivated by practicing mindful meditation
3 types of meditations 1. Focused Attention
2. Open Awareness
3. Loving-Kindness
the differences between the 3 types of meditations 1. focused-attention (focused awareness): focusing on your breath, notice
wanderings of the mind, non-judgmentally return your attention to your breath
2. Open Monitoring (open awareness): openness to sensations, thoughts, emotions;
attending fully to what is present
3. Loving-Kindness: holding our experience in a kind, loving way; developing
feelings of empathy and love for others (begins with self, extends to those we
dislike)
What has research taught us about the neurobiology of neurobiology of mindfulness- mindfulness promotes growth and development of
mindfulness, emotional regulation, and empathy? brain related to social/emotional intelligence
-according to 17 studies, meditators have increased volume and density in brains
compared to non-meditators
-randomized control treatments found short-term meditation caused structural
changes in the brain (changes in pre-frontal cortex)
***ADD MORE HERE
What do we know about mindfulness and its impact on -people vary in their ability to interpret intentions and motivations of others
couple relationships? -some pick up on cues, others oblivious
-brain does much of its processing of social intelligence without conscious
awareness (so relationship improvement may partly rely on changing the way the
brain automatically/unconsciously selects what to pay attention to and what to
ignore)
What are some of the reasons why mindfulness is related -mindfulness can help one notice and be aware of partner... -->
to improved relationships? -cumulative effect
Know the characteristics of satisfied partners and how -satisfied partners are more attentive to details of others world, more accurate in id
mindfulness is related to these characteristics. ing details about partners daily life, more aware when partner's make bids for
connection, notice positive behaviors during arguments, understand partners
reasoning-even when do not agree, avoid ruminating over negative events
-satisfied partners: regulate negative emotions during conflict, avoid "negative affect
reciprocity" (responding to expressions of negative affect with negative affect-->
strongest correlate to dissatisfaction worldwide)
-mindfulness relates to these because being mindful increases awareness and
ability to respond rather than react
. What is DPA and why is it related to more dissatisfied -DPA is the activation of the body's alarm system (inc. heart rate, inc. blood volume,
relationships? reduced oxygen, inc. adrenaline and cortisol, inc. amygdala activation, begins when
heart > 100 bpm)
-clear association between DPA and relationship dissatisfaction; husbands heading
for divorce-17bpm higher; DPA inhibits humor, creativity, empathy, and non-
defensive listening
how does mindfulness help with DPA -mindfulness practice- decreases sympathetic (fight or flight) activity CNS and
increases parasympathetic (rest and digest)
-emotion regulation- Prefrontal control systems regulate amygdala, exposure
(turning towards unpleasant physical sensations)
-disentangle negative emotions from thoughts
-promoting physical soothing
