How do mediating goals differ from ultimate goals in couple therapy according to the chapter?

Mediating goals in couple therapy are short-term objectives that focus on changes in psychological processes, such as achieving insight and teaching interpersonal skills. In contrast, ultimate goals are desired end states that aim for broader outcomes like reducing psychiatric symptoms and improving individual psychological needs.

Mediating goals, also known as process goals, are concerned with the specific psychological changes that individuals or couples undergo to achieve treatment objectives. These include gaining insight, enhancing emotional self-awareness, and learning interpersonal skills. Ultimate goals, on the other hand, represent the overall desired outcomes of therapy, such as reducing psychiatric symptoms and improving relationship dynamics. While mediating goals are often less explicitly discussed, ultimate goals are generally acknowledged across various therapeutic approaches.