Beschreibung:
<jats:p><jats:bold>Abstract. </jats:bold> A model for describing and judging change in <jats:italic>a couple relationship is</jats:italic> set out, drawing on a follow‐up method established at the Tavistock Clinic for the assessment of change in <jats:italic>individual patients</jats:italic>. We present the follow‐up work done with the couple in the chronological order in which it occurred.</jats:p><jats:p>Our aim is to show how a psychodynamic formulation of a relationship can be made by using the concept of the shared unconscious phantasy as a factor which describes and justifies treating separate individuals as part of a single system. We suggest that such a framework provides an economic method of formulating a base from which to assess change.</jats:p>