What is a myth about marital therapy models?

• A. Active-listening models are highly effective.
• B. Therapy should address emotional aspects beyond communication.
• C. Therapy is always quick and simple.
• D. There is no evidence-based approach in couples therapy.

Answer: (A)

Believing that active-listening models are highly effective on their own is a misconception about marital therapy. Active listening is a valuable tool that can foster empathy and safety, but lasting change usually requires more than a single technique. Effective couples work blends communication skills with deeper emotional processing, attachment needs, and changes in interaction patterns. Therapists drawing on evidence-based approaches integrate these elements so that couples not only talk more constructively but also connect emotionally, repair hurts, and alter unhealthy dynamics. So, treating active-listening as a stand-alone, highly effective model overlooks how most successful therapies actually operate.