S and AJ are a heteroxexual couple married 18 years and no children. They have had several years of couples therapy related to them being a "neurodiverse" couple, with the husband having a diagnosis of autism at age 40. Their couple therapy has stalled out and their therapist recommended DC. The wife (S) is leaning out.

During the phone screen the husband (AJ) at first reported being confused and demoralized about a direction for the marriage, but after I told that that DC required a LI partner, he clarified that he wanted to give the marriage a good last chance because (after I asked him a couple of times) "I feel a deep love and connection to her, and I think we can make it work." I encouraged him to bring that stance to the sessions.

S told me that she does not know what AJ wants from her and is not sure he can meet her needs for emotional safety and for physical caretaking. On the latter, she moved out to be with family in September after her foot surgery when she felt he was angry and unhelpful about taking care of her. (She had initiated a separation for several months lasts year as well.) All of this makes her lean towards divorce. She carries a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and recognizes that she can be "smothering, controlling, and impatient." She has a childhood history of sexual abuse and other traumas. She reported stressful infertility treatments and two miscarriages that were life threatening. None of this has been processed in therapy, which seems to focus on whether AJ can respond emotionally S.

By the way, some of the therapy occurs in a foursome with the couple, AJ's therapist, and their couple therapist who is also S's therapist.

Finally, they thoroughly researched DC online and watched videos of me explaining it before they agree to see me and to have our sessions recorded.

They should be an interesting couple to work with in DC.