The Comparison of the Effectiveness of Reality Therapy and SocioEmotional Relationship Therapy on Coping Strategies in Couples

This study aims to compare the effectiveness of reality therapy with socioemotional relationship therapy on coping strategies in couples. This study followed a quasi-experimental design. The statistical population were the couples who employed the services of private counseling and psychological centers in Ardabil in 2016 due to marital conflict. 45 couples were selected based on their accessibility. Then they were divided into three groups randomly. The dependent variable (coping strategies) was evaluated through questionnaires before and after the therapy sessions. Subjects of experimental groups received ten ninety minute sessions.The results of multiple analyses of covariance indicated that there was a significant difference among three groups in post-test scores of those seeking social support, plan-problem solving, accepting responsibility, distancing and escapeavoidance (P 0/01 .(The results of Tokey test showed that the mean score for planproblem solving, accepting responsibility in reality therapy and mean score for seeking social support, distancing and escape-avoidance in socio-emotional relationship therapy group was significantly different compared to mean scores in control group (P 0/01 .(Both therapies can increase the application of seeking social support, plan-problem solving and accepting responsibility and can lead in decreasing distancing and escape-avoidance. In addition socioemotional relationship therapy was more effective in improving coping strategies.