Attachment theory (Bowlby, 1988) and contextual therapy (Boszormenyi-Nagy and Krasner, 1986) have conceptual commonalities relative to dialogue, trust, and creating new relational realities (Diamond, Siqueland and Diamond, 2003; Greenberg and Johnson, 2010; Hughes, 2007). Linking Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) (Greenberg and Johnson, 2010) and contextual therapy has also been conceptually proposed for couples therapy (Lyness, 2003).

Though depression is one of the most common presenting problems treated by systemic therapists, there have been relatively few attempts to describe how specific systemic therapy models can be applied to treat couples dealing with depression. In this paper, we discuss how contextual therapy can be used to treat depression in couples therapy. We identify multidirected partiality as an intervention and as a characteristic. We introduce letter writing and internalized other interviewing as contextual interventions that help to facilitate partiality and understanding between clients.

Though depression is one of the most common presenting problems treated by systemic therapists, there have been relatively few attempts to describe how specific systemic therapy models can be applied to treat couples dealing with depression. In this paper, we discuss how contextual therapy can be used to treat depression in couples therapy. We identify multidirected partiality as an intervention and as a characteristic. We introduce letter writing and internalized other interviewing as contextual interventions that help to facilitate partiality and understanding between clients.