From the author: The article presents a method of short-term psychotherapeutic work on resolving chronic marital conflict. The method combines various psychoanalytic and cognitive-behavioral approaches. A step-by-step five-step guide guides the therapist in his work, helps to quickly work through the intrapsychic conflicts of both spouses and teach partners to interact on the basis of empathy. Short-term object relations therapy (Donovan, 2003) is a new psychodynamically-oriented method of working with a couple, created by James Donovan, who, on the one hand, it allows you to work out connections between the present and the past, on the other hand, it is effective in a short time. The main therapeutic goal of this model is to resolve the current marital conflict by analyzing its driving forces, the roots of which are in the childhood of each spouse. This structured method of marital therapy combines the seemingly incompatible: a deep view of psychoanalytic theory with problem-oriented techniques from different areas of modern marital psychotherapy. The theoretical basis of the approach is the position of R. Fairbairn’s theory that repressed experience consists primarily of object relations, and not drives and affects, and Henry Dix’s concept of the unconscious choice of a partner. The “core” of the method is Jill and David Scharff’s concept of mutual marital projective identification and its role in the unconscious life of a couple. This approach uses the conflict triangle model, borrowed from short-term psychodynamic therapy by David Malan. In addition, when describing the methodology of the approach, the author refers to the structural family therapy of Salvador Minuchin and Mile Nichols, and also recommends the use of cognitive-behavioral, narrative and strategic therapy techniques at the final stage of therapy. Short-term marital object relations therapy involves, first of all, individual changes , however, only those facets of the personality of the spouses that manifest themselves in the conflict are worked out. Secondly, the approach involves changing the interaction of spouses. A lot of time during sessions is devoted to teaching partners how to interact based on empathy. The formation of sustainable changes in the relationship between spouses takes from 14 to 16 sessions. The approach is applicable in psychotherapeutic work with couples who are in chronic conflict, which unfolds over and over again according to the same scenario and is designed for people with a developed ability to reflect and motivation to maintaining relationships. Traumatic events or abuse in the past of the spouses are not a contraindication to undergoing therapy if the egos of both partners are sufficiently integrated. Additionally, Donavan notes, this approach is unlikely to be effective if one of the spouses has narcissistic or borderline personality disorder. The structure of the therapy process consists of 5 stages. A step-by-step guide guides the therapist in his work. He flexibly but actively monitors the course of therapy. The first stage of work is devoted to studying the conflict scenario, forming a working alliance and takes at least 2 sessions. At this same stage, the therapist diagnoses the mental state of the partners, assesses whether the method is suitable for working with the given couple, and draws up a picture of the conflict. The conversation takes place in a free manner, the therapist observes the couple’s interaction and helps formulate the spouses’ requests to each other. He is looking for answers to the questions: what events foreshadow the beginning of a quarrel? Who initiates more often? What feelings and at what moment do each spouse have? Who says and does what to fuel the fire of conflict? At the same time, the therapist pays attention to the spouses’ mention of episodes from childhood, the history of relationships with parents and siblings. He is looking for connections between the past and present of the spouses, but has not yet voiced hishypotheses. Consider the model using the example of 52-year-old couple Andrea and Bill (Donovan, 2003). She is a social studies teacher, he is an IT consultant. At the first session, Andrea tearfully said that Bill had withdrawn into himself, almost didn’t talk to her and didn’t explain what happened. According to Bill, who was distant at the first meeting, Andrea does not satisfy him as a partner. Both spouses take turns initiating the quarrel. Bill complains that Andrea is not enthusiastic enough about the family's home renovation project. Andrea, for her part, expresses dissatisfaction with the fact that Bill pays too much attention to work. The reason for disagreement never changes. Everyone perceives their partner as rejecting. Both believe that they do not deserve to be blamed and rationalize their behavior. Both Bill and Andrea suffer because they perceive the contradictions as insoluble. When desperate attempts to reach each other exhaust themselves, the spouses move away from each other - they go to live in different rooms. Hinting that a relationship with Andrea may never be able to meet his needs, Bill proposes a divorce. Rejected, Andrea is left alone with her panic. This pattern repeated itself every 3-4 months. On the one hand, Bill and Andrea are in a complex, chronic conflict. On the other hand, they constantly play out the same scenario, and this allows the therapist to quickly highlight the focus of therapeutic work. The second stage is an important preparatory phase of this therapeutic model and takes 2 sessions. Here the emphasis is on a retrospective study of the relationships of spouses with their parents and siblings. The couple and the therapist are faced with the following questions: What impact did early object relations experience have on the interaction between spouses? To what extent did this experience determine the unconscious choice of the partner, which limits the possibilities of obtaining pleasure from the relationship and leads to repeated, painful conflict? Based on the information received, the therapist creates a focal triangle, which consists of three “vertices”: 1) the conflict scenario, 2) individual characteristics of the spouses, 3) histories of the spouses’ parental families (Fig. 1). Rice. 1. Using the focal triangle model, the therapist summarizes and structures the information that the spouses spontaneously voice in the first two meetings. The picture of the focal triangle becomes clearer as the therapist and couple draw parallels between the vertices of the triangle. The spouses probably faced a similar conflict in their parental family. Perhaps one or both spouses have identified with their parents and borrowed from them certain character traits or behavior patterns that increase the conflict. For example, Bill's parents rarely spoke to him; as a child, he was deprived of a trusting, warm relationship. From his father he inherited an unshakable stubbornness. Although conflict arises in interaction, its nature and source are individual. Spouses do not attack each other, but, first of all, the internal objects that they have projected onto their partner. Therefore, at stage 3, the therapist focuses on analyzing the psychological dynamics of each spouse individually and on working through their internal object relations. To achieve these goals, Donovan suggests using D. Malan's conflict triangle model, according to which each person has hidden desires and intolerable feelings that could potentially contribute to psychological growth and intimacy with others. However, he experiences guilt about his desires, and anxiety that his desire will never come true. When anxiety increases, a person automatically begins to defend against it. The more fiercely he defends himself, the less hope remains for the realization of what he wants, and the more and more intolerable feelings are repressed. Fig. 2 The arrows outside the triangle indicate the direction of psychodynamic energy. The desire to fulfill secret desires causes guilt andanxiety (T), as a result of which motives are suppressed using protective behavior (Z). The more fiercely a person defends himself, the less hope remains for the realization of what he wants and the more deeply intolerable feelings are repressed. Hidden desires and intolerable feelings are usually hidden in the unconscious, anxiety and defense are a partially conscious mechanism, and the connection between anxiety and defense is usually most clearly visible. Rice. 3 Figure 3 shows Bill and Andrea's conflict triangles. He longs for true understanding and approval (UN), but at the same time suffers from chronic anxiety about being devalued and rejected by others (T). Fear of rejection causes Bill to withdraw into himself and attack those who he perceives as not supporting him (D). Andrea, for her part, wants to receive care and approval for loyalty and social achievements (SN). But at the same time she is afraid of criticism, which causes a feeling of guilt and the need to justify herself (3) For both Bill and Andrea, the conflict triangle has a connection with internal objects: Bill inherited the fear of rejection from his distant parents, Andrea’s fear is caused by nagging from a critical father. Feeling rejected and misunderstood by his wife, Bill withdraws into himself and attacks her. She panics and desperately makes excuses. Bill does not forgive her, Andrea cannot get rid of the feelings of guilt and bitterness. At the 3rd stage of therapy, which lasts 5-6 sessions, the therapist explores the conflict triangles of each spouse. As the connections between the vertices of the conflict triangles become clearer, both spouses, being witnesses to this process, begin to better understand the motives and concerns of the partner and be more empathetic towards each other's feelings. At this point, the therapist has enough information to begin the active intervention and interpretation phase. Stage 4 of therapy is devoted to reconstructing the conflict triangle. After partners have learned a lot about themselves and their alliance with childhood objects, they can work together to resolve the conflict and abandon their distorted perceptions of their partner. A phase of active therapeutic interventions (confrontations, interpretations) begins, aimed at weakening rigid defenses so that they cease to be a weapon in the conflict. As soon as one of the partners weakens his defenses, the other also comes to meet him halfway. They openly discuss the possibilities of obtaining the satisfaction of an unacceptable desire (UN) in a marital relationship. Let's return to the conflict between Bill and Andrea. He withdraws, criticizes his wife for not fulfilling her obligations, and refuses to acknowledge Andrea's ability to cooperate. He is obviously angry, but outwardly he only shows disappointment. Gradually, the therapist helps him accept, understand and express his anger. Although anger appears first, it often masks another affect. Beal's anger masks the anxiety caused by his own sense of vulnerability. Bill's parents did not understand, did not support, and rejected him. When his father punished Bill, no one came to his aid. Bill grew up withdrawn and cynical. Behind the screen of his defenses there is strong anxiety caused by the fear of punishment if secret desires are discovered. It's no wonder that Bill's reactions to his wife are so rigid and unforgiving. Andrea's anxiety is centered on her distant, judgmental father. She cannot resist rigid internal objects and projects them outward. She developed a representation of herself as a guilty and offended child begging for forgiveness. She acts out this scenario from childhood with her husband. The therapist gently confronts her feelings towards her idealized father and encourages her to reconsider her relationship with him. Bill's presence and participation in this dialogue is of great benefit. The therapist encourages the spouses to voice their feelings and desires, their validity and value. Bill becomes more empathetic to Andrea's internal conflict and accepts that his wife doesn't really mean to hurt, 2003.