The Circular Diagram in Couple Therapy: A relational map for guiding the therapeutic process

Abstract

One of the most versatile techniques for case formulation and intervention in couple therapy is described in detail in this article: The circular diagram. This is a tool that allows mapping patterns of interpersonal construing and intervening on the cycles of interaction that maintain or dissolve the problems for which couples seek therapy. With the objective of portraying this technology thoroughly, the text is divided into two main sections. In the first one, a brief guide to systemic formulation is presented what serves as a conceptual framework for the second one, focused on the description of the diagram. In this second section, it is firstly explained what exactly is the circular diagram and how to construct it, step by step, detailing each of its landscapes (action, meaning, and relational models), as well as the way to build it up in the context of the therapeutic interview. Furthermore, two clinical examples are presented in order to provide the reader with a more precise idea of its usefulness for clinical formulation. Then, the benefits of using the diagram in the context of couple therapy as a tool focused on patterns of interpersonal construing are commented. Finally, some basic intervention strategies based on the circular diagram are outlined.