What is PACT?

A Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy

By: Marta Cofone, LPC, NCC

Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT) is a form of couples therapy that can help couples facing the most challenging issues. PACT is a combination of attachment theory, neuroscience, and arousal regulation. Instead of getting caught up in the content of the argument and speech, in a session with a PACT therapist you get to really focus on what is happening with your body (arousal) and emotions. PACT helps couples see and understand their partner and all of their hurt, longing, and sadness.

Creating Securely Attached Relationships

PACT helps couples create a securely attached relationship, so partners know how to take care of and support one other. In your sessions with your PACT therapist, he or she will help you manage and self-regulate your emotions so you stay within a tolerable space where you can feel your feelings and actually listen and understand one another. 

We usually have automatic responses to our partners, something as simple as a subtle change in our tone  (often  happening unintentionally) can affect your partner. Learning and recognizing these automatic reactions in real time can help improve your communication and connection with your partner to build a more satisfying relationship.

What to expect from PACT 

During your PACT sessions there are some things you can expect to experience.  Your therapist will…

  • Focus on moment to moment shifts or changes in your facial expressions, body language, and voice and will direct you to pay attention to these as a couple.

  • Create enactments of situations that are causing issues in your relationship and help you work through them in real time.

Sessions in this modality typically:

  • requires fewer sessions than other forms of couples therapy.

  • are longer than average couples therapy sessions. This means they tend to last more than 50 minutes, most commonly 3-6 hours. Extending time in this way affords the therapist and couple to get deeper into the issues that led to therapy.

  • Are videotaped in order to provide feedback to you in the moment about shifts in your face, body, and voice (of course this is only done with consent).

Who can PACT help?

PACT is a helpful type of couples therapy for any couple that wants to learn to navigate their conflict differently and create a secure relationship. It’s also helpful for couples who have tried other forms of more traditional couples therapy and have found it to be unhelpful or not enough.

Marta Cofone, LPC, NCC is a therapist in Philadelphia and Ardmore, Pennsylvania. Marta specializes in substance use issues, trauma, and relationships. To work with Marta or to learn more click here.

ABOUT A BETTER LIFE THERAPY

A Better Life Therapy supports individuals, couples, and families to create a better life for themselves and their loved ones through navigating mental health challenges, improving their relationships, learning new life and relational skills, and building a healthy sense of self. Whether you are facing a difficulty or are looking to take a proactive approach to your mental wellness, we are here. 

Locations

A Better Life Therapy offers face to face and virtual therapy. See our locations below. We are continuing to add new states so if you do not see your state listed please check with us at info@abetterlifetherapy.com

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If you would like to meet with your therapist face-to-face in an office, we’ve got you covered. Are offices are designed to make you feel completely at home.

Please visit us for:

  • Therapy in our Center City, Philadelphia office at 100 S Broad Broad Street

  • Therapy in our Main Line Office in Ardmore, Pennsylvania at 10 E. Athens Ave

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If you prefer to do therapy from the comfort of your home, workplace, or while out in a park,check out our virtual locations. Right now we are able to offer virtual therapy for people residing in:

  • New Jersey

  • Pennsylvania

  • Delaware

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