Introduction
The family, as the most fundamental social institution, plays a decisive role in the mental, emotional, and social health of its members (Febrianty et al., 2023). The quality of marital relationships constitutes a critical component of family stability and a pivotal factor in life satisfaction (Nurbaeti et al., 2023). However, the advent of rapid social changes, economic pressures, and cultural developments in recent decades has increased tensions and conflicts between couples (Majumder et al., 2024). The inability to regulate emotions, poor communication skills, dysfunctional cognitions, and an inability to recognize each other's needs have been identified as significant factors in the emergence and persistence of marital conflicts (see Dehdast & Ghobadi, 2020; Fathi-Ashtiani et al., 2023). The persistence of these conflicts can culminate in adverse consequences, including diminished intimacy, reduced marital satisfaction, escalated familial tensions, and, in more profound instances, the dissolution of familial bonds.
In response to the aforementioned challenges, Meng and Yang (2024) proposed several approaches to mitigate interpersonal conflicts and enhance the quality of couples' relationships. One of these approaches is Bowen's systemic therapy, which, by emphasizing self-differentiation, emotion regulation, and understanding communication patterns in the family system, helps couples better manage their emotional interactions (Bowen, 1993; Kerr & Bowen, 1988). In this approach, differentiation is defined as an individual's capacity to maintain equilibrium between emotion and thought in interpersonal relationships. Research indicates that enhancing differentiation may contribute to the improvement of couples' relationships and the mitigation of conflicts (Knapp et al., 2024). Furthermore, Cognitive-Behavioral Couples Therapy, which emphasizes the correction of dysfunctional beliefs and thoughts and the instruction of effective communication skills, plays a pivotal role in enhancing couples' interactions (Dugal et al., 2018). This approach underscores the notion that couples' beliefs and cognitive interpretations of life events exert a direct influence on their emotions and behaviors within the context of their relationship (Beck, 2011).
Conversely, Choice Theory and Reality Therapy, with their focus on personal responsibility, acknowledgment of fundamental needs, and selection of adaptive behaviors, offer a pragmatic framework for enhancing interpersonal relationships (Glasser, 1998; Glasser & Glasser, 2010). According to this perspective, numerous marital relationship challenges emerge from individuals' endeavors to fulfill fundamental needs through maladaptive behaviors or those driven by external control (Valizadeh et al., 2022). Despite the effectiveness of each of these approaches, research evidence indicates that integrating theories and therapeutic interventions can provide a more comprehensive understanding of couples' problems and increase the effectiveness of interventions (Sabzevari et al., 2023). Integrative approaches have been shown to facilitate the simultaneous addressing of the cognitive, emotional, and systemic dimensions of couples' relationships (Sabzevari et al., 2023). Accordingly, the present study was designed to develop and validate an integrative skills training package based on the integration of Bowen's systemic approaches, cognitive-behavioral couple therapy, and choice theory. The objective of this training is to help improve the quality of the couple's relationship through training in relational balance skills.
 
Method
The present study is applied in terms of its objective and employed a qualitative approach during the development phase of the intervention package. In this stage, a review of the scientific sources and specialized texts related to family, marital conflicts, Bowen's systemic therapy, cognitive-behavioral couple therapy, and choice theory was conducted using qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis. Subsequently, the pertinent theoretical and skill components were extracted and arranged in the form of a structured educational package. In the validation stage, the opinions of 10 experts in the field of family psychology and couple therapy, with a minimum of five years of professional experience, were obtained. The content validity ratio index, based on the Lawshe formula, was used to measure content validity. The necessity of each component and session was assessed by experts on a three-point scale. Given the number of reviewers (n=10), the minimum acceptable CVR value was considered to be 0.62, and components or sessions that did not achieve this quorum were removed or modified.
 
Findings
The results indicated that the initial training package was developed in 13 sessions. Following a thorough evaluation by subject matter experts, 12 sessions were deemed to have adequate content validity, while one session was deemed unsuitable for inclusion. Specifically, the third session, which was dedicated to factors that create, protect, and reduce balance in individual and couple relationships, failed to achieve the minimum required value of 0.62 , with a CVR of 0.40. Therefore, it was eliminated from the final structure. Consequently, the final package was structured into 12 sessions. The content of the final sessions focused on self-differentiation, training in balance in needs, recognizing dysfunctional thoughts, regulating emotions, correcting maladaptive behaviors, improving communication skills, setting boundaries, and practicing balance in couple relationships. The results indicated that the package developed by the experts contains the necessary content adequacy for use in the field of training and interventions related to couple relationships.
 
Discussion
The findings of the present study demonstrated that the designed integrated training-skill package exhibited favorable content validity according to experts, and the majority of its components successfully achieved the necessary quorum to enter the final structure. This finding aligns with research indicating the efficacy of Bowen 's systemic therapy in enhancing couples' communication patterns. Studies have demonstrated the role of cognitive behavioral couple therapy in correcting dysfunctional thoughts and promoting effective interaction between partners. Research based on choice theory and reality therapy has also shown improvements in responsibility and marital adjustment (Dugal et al., 2018; Sabzevari et al., 2023; Valizadeh et al., 2022). Concurrently, in the research background, integrated training-skill packages with a direct focus on balance in the couple relationship have been less frequently structured and validated. The rationale underlying this finding is that marital conflicts are inherently multidimensional in nature, encompassing multiple cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions. Consequently, integrating the three aforementioned approaches can ensure a more comprehensive assessment of the various facets of the couple's relationship. Therefore, it is recommended that this package be utilized in family counseling centers and preventive education programs. In order to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of the aforementioned approach, it is imperative to conduct a thorough examination of its efficacy in experimental and quasi-experimental studies, as well as in a more diverse array of samples.