CONTEMPORARY FAMILY THERAPY最新文献

Few digital divorce interventions have undergone rigorous randomized control trial study (RCT) testing of their physical and psychological health effects. This paper describes the Cooperation after Divorce (CAD) intervention including background, target group, design and engagement strategies, intervention development, content, and theoretical cornerstones. The 17-module digital psychoeducational intervention addresses three main content areas: (1) the divorcee themselves, (2) the children, and (3) co-parenting. The content of the modules provided psychoeducation and therapeutic activities focused on the maladaptive interactional patterns between former partners and how to develop new interactional schemas, including a focus on when and how to communicate with the former partner in a way that does not escalate conflict. A randomized controlled trial (N = 778) assessed the effect of CAD in terms of number of sick days. Participants were assessed at 3-, 6- and 12-month post-divorce. Independent samples t test revealed that participants in the intervention group on average reported 5.82 fewer sick days one year post-divorce than did participants in the control condition. The results suggest that digital post-divorce interventions decrease sick days for newly divorce individuals, thereby offering long-term human, family, and public health benefits.

Across studies, intuitive eating is associated with many health indicators. The Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2), the instrument for measuring intuitive eating, had not previously been explored with a sample of sexual minority [Sexual minority refers to individuals who experience consensual sexual identity, attraction, or behavior that is non normative (typically sexual minority individuals are lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, or non-heterosexual)] individuals despite the disparities in eating behaviors and stress that persist among this population. Further, past work suggests the context of being partnered can be both protective and harmful for eating behaviors, highlighting an important avenue for investigating intuitive eating at the dyad level. This study sought to investigate the factor structure of the IES-2 and to explore the associations between both partner’s mental health, relational quality, and interpersonal eating interactions within a dyadic sample of 228 married male sexual minority couples (88% white, 8.8% Latino or Hispanic, 5.3% African American or Black, and 5.9% in other racial or ethnic groups). The original four-factor solution did not fit the current sample; instead, a new, fifth factor emerged, which was labeled as Eating Not as Coping. Intuitive eating behaviors were dyadically associated with mental and relational health and partners’ health-related interactions with one another. Future use of the IES-2 is informed by present results which may also inform recommendations for practice with and study of health and relationships.

With increasing numbers of stepfamilies, there is a growing need for evidence-based, informed therapeutic treatment. Stepfamilies experience unique challenges, such as grief, depression, adjustment difficulties, and increased family/parental conflict (Jensen et al. Family Process 57:477–495, 2018). Adolescents in stepfamilies have the greatest difficulty adjusting, resulting in attachment-related consequences which can be detrimental to their academic performance, mental health, and overall well-being, such as depression, loyalty conflicts and low academic performance (Jensen et al. Family Process 57:477–495, 2018; Papernow Family Process 57:25–51, 2018). Family therapy can provide an avenue for processing and adapting to the changes that arise in the process of transitioning into stepfamilies for all members of the family, especially adolescents. This article reviews current research on stepfamilies and recommends Attachment Based Family Therapy (ABFT) as a model from which family therapists may draw as they approach treatment of stepfamilies. With a focus on the attachment between family members, especially between adolescents and their parents, ABFT addresses the underlying damages that occur during the many changes in family dynamics and provides a clear avenue to repairing parent-child attachment.

Abstract

Systemic models of couple and family therapy (CFT) are often categorized into two transtheoretical paradigms: modernism and postmodernism. Traditionally, these paradigms have been positioned in opposition to one another and are critiqued for their respective epistemologies and stances on the definitions of truth and reality. The binarizing of systemic models has created theoretical divisions in the field of CFT that restricts many clinicians from addressing the limitations and harnessing the benefits of each transtheoretical paradigm. Metamodernism, a philosophical paradigm that emphasizes theoretical pluralism, reflexivity, and dialectical processes, has arisen as a potential solution for addressing the philosophical tensions between modernism and postmodernism; however, there currently exists no approach to systemic therapy that aligns with the tenets of this paradigm. This article delineates the application of metamodernism in the field of systemic therapy through the presentation of Dynamic Narrative Therapy, an innovative approach to systemic therapy drawn from the integration of two foundational theoretical models (i.e., strategic family therapy and narrative family therapy). This integration synergizes the strategic concepts of circular causality and feedback loops as well as the narrative use of deconstruction, externalization, and narrative metaphor to illustrate a more comprehensive approach to the therapeutic change.

In Gottman Couple Therapy (GCT), the intervention of Dreams-within-Conflict (DWC) helps break down a gridlocked issue between couples through deeper emotional expression and experiencing (in-counseling exploration of emotions). The current study examined experiencing in a single session of DWC for N = 30 individuals (15 couples) using multiple methods such as self-assessment questionnaires, observation rating and coding of the video recording, and feedback interviews. The before and during DWC best experiencing video segments were selected and rated by two raters independently on the experiencing scale (ES) for partners. The changes in experiencing mode and peak scores (ESM and ESP) during DWC were investigated in the presence of individual characteristics of attachment (anxiety and avoidance) and relationship mindfulness traits. A paired-samples t-test showed a significant increase in experiencing for both partners. Hierarchical linear modeling analysis indicated that gender (women) significantly and positively predicted ESM. ESP was predicted positively by gender (women) and negatively by avoidance, though the results were not conclusive. Thematic analysis was used to look at the Indian couples' experiencing as shared by them in order to better grasp the therapeutic implications. The qualitative findings confirm the quantitative results that couples outside of intervention utilized experiencing levels 1–3 predominantly and moved to 3–4 levels during best experiencing segments of intervention. Couples reviewed positively to the emotional experiencing techniques used during the DWC intervention.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the self-worth strengthening group psycho-education program based on systemic therapy on the self-worth of emerging adults. The study was designed in a static group experimental design including pre and post-tests and follow-up test. The experimental (n = 12) and control groups (n = 12) consisted of a total of 24 emerging adults. The Cooper-Smith Self-esteem Scale was used to test. An eight-sessions group psycho-education was applied to the experimental group. Results revealed that group psycho-education strengthened the self-worth of emerging adults. The results of the research were discussed within the framework of the relevant literature.

Transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) youth are at increased risk for poor mental health. Families significantly impact the mental health of TGNB youth because of the need for acceptance and support for their gender exploration, identity, and access to gender-affirming services. We conducted a theoretically grounded literature review using the Family Resilience Framework (FRF; Walsh, 2015). The aim was to center family resilience as a guiding theory in understanding TGNB youth mental health for family intervention. The review highlighted the following: (1) belief systems for making meaning of gender, sexuality, and the TGNB youth coming out and their embodied futures; (2) flexible organizational processes for a youth-lead gender transition, sustained family connectedness, and accessing gender-affirming community and healthcare resources; and (3) communication processes that empower TGNB youth to emotionally share and collaboratively make decisions with caregivers. Implications offered for family intervention.

Client discontinuation is prevalent in psychotherapy with up to half discontinuing therapy before meeting the goals of therapy (Thalmayer, 2018). When therapists work to improve the therapeutic alliance, clients are more likely to stay in treatment and chances of recovery improve (D’Aniello et al., 2018; Escudero & Friedlander, 2017). Most of the alliance research, however, comes from client self-report of the alliance with less research based on observations of alliance behaviors that occur during a session. There has been limited research on how in-session alliance behaviors may be related to client discontinuation in couple therapy. The current exploratory study examined this question in a sample of thirty matched pairs of heterosexual couples (15 couples who discontinued prematurely and 15 who successfully completed treatment). Alliance behaviors were coded using the System for Observing Family Therapy Alliances (Friedlander et al., 2005; SOFTA-o) and t-tests were used to identify whether couples differed significantly on four dimensions of the therapeutic alliance: Engagement in the therapeutic process, emotional connection to the therapist, safety within the therapeutic system, and shared sense of purpose within the family. Results indicate that emotional connection was significantly lower for both male and female partners in the discontinuation group, as was the male partner’s sense of safety and shared sense of purpose. Within these dimensions, several individual alliance behaviors were also significant suggesting their potential importance in helping therapists identify couples at risk of discontinuation.