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Marital therapy introduction
Critique of emotion focused therapy
Critique of emotion focused therapy
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Positive Psychology unlike the standard Psychology that we have all come to be familiar with focuses on the good in life and people rather than the negative. Within this scope of the positive is a technique known as emotion-focused coping. The standard Psychology that has been the most prominent the past century has taught us that emotions are not good and detrimental to our thought process and overall health. Emotion-focused coping has brought light to the fact that emotions can be handled in a way that is beneficial and leads to a desired positive outcome (Snyder et al., 2015). The purpose of this paper is to analyze and describe the outcome of the application of emotion-focused coping on clients in couple therapy. First, I am going to define …show more content…
Emotion-focused therapy is one of the two most tested and frequently used interventions for couples besides BCT, or behavioral couples therapy. In a couple therapy session where emotion-focused coping is being utilized emotions are obviously the main subject in which the interactions of the therapist and the clients are revolving. During the session the therapist looks for key emotional responses and tries to further these emotions and get to the origin of these emotions in order to help resolve any conflicts or better any situation in the relationship between the couple (Johnson & Woolley, …show more content…
These couples received the two different coping approaches over a ten-week period and were compared to a control group. The integrated systematic therapy and the emotion-focused therapy were both found to be more successful than the control group. They were also both found to be equally as, “…effective in alleviating marital distress, facilitating conflict resolution and goal attainment, and reducing target complaints at termination.” However, contrary to what the past couple studies have found couples that experienced integrated systematic therapy showed greater continual success from the therapy when a four-month follow-up was conducted and based on marital satisfaction and goal attainment (Goldman & Greenburg,
Ripley, J. S., & Worthington Jr., E. L. (2014). Couple therapy: A new hope-focused approach. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. ISBN:
Gladding, S. T. (2010). Family therapy: History, theory, and practice (5th Ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson
Emotionally focused therapy is designed to be short-term in structure. Developed principally by Dr. Susan Johnson, the main target of this type of therapy is couples and is focused on expressing emotions. The primary goal of emotionally focused therapy is to create a safe and long-lasting bond between romantic partners and family members while expanding and restructuring significant emotional responses. Partakers in emotionally focused therapy are emboldened to express their thoughts and emotions in a safe environment without fear of judgment. In this paper, we will discuss a therapy session between Sue Johnson and a couple, Leslie and Scott.
The evidence base for Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) contains a rich history of research not only by its founders, but also by a wide range of professionals within the fields of counseling and psychology. Johnson and Greenberg (1985) first examined the effectiveness of the EFT model by comparing the outcomes of EFT treated couples to those of couples treated in a traditional problem-solving manner. Through newspaper recruitment and subsequent assessment interviews, 45 couples were chosen to participate in a study in which 15 were randomly assigned to EFT treatment, 15 to cognitive-behavioral problem-solving treatment, and 15 to a control
Gurman, A. S., & Kniskern, D. P. Research on marital and family therapy: Progress, perspective and
Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1987). Transactional theory and research on emotions and coping. European Journal of Personality, 1(3), 141-169. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com.library.gcu.edu:2048/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=4&sid=6af88033-cdff-4c3b-8b49-dadc2d302c35%40sessionmgr4004&hid=4105
I have based my approach on the data that was presented to me through intake forms and viewing prior sessions with the couple. To protect the couple from any negative counter-transference, I filtered my observations through the theories of Gottman’s Married Couple Therapy (2008), Johnson’s Emotionally Focused Therapy (2008) (EFT), and David’s Integrated Model of Couple Therapy (2013a) (ICT). The bulk of this paper will then examine my therapeutic approach, the supporting theoretical concepts, and my strengths and weaknesses as a therapist during the session. The latter will include peer feedback, instructor feedback, and self-critique. This paper will conclude with a brief discussion of the future direction of therapy were I to remain their therapist.
Leahy, R.L., Tirch, D.D. & Napolitano, L.A. (2012). Why is emotion regulation important? Psychotherapy in Australia, 19(1), 68-81.
In today's society, individual counseling is becoming more main-stream with increased usage within the school system, family unit and even the military. The role that a counselor can have on any individual varies according to the chosen theory to practice and the approach taken. However, it must be stated that the approach and success of therapy is dependent on the relationship established by the therapist (clinician) with the client. In 2010 Seligman proposed the BETA treatment system, which stands for background, emotions, thoughts, and actions. According to Seligman, all theories are either focused on a person’s background, emotions, thoughts or their actions. For this reason, we will discuss three prominent forms of individual counseling therapy used today. The three types of therapy are Adlerian Theory, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution Focused Brief Therapy. The following paper will seek to introduce the key concepts, therapeutic approach, and application of various techniques, or procedures for each of these practices.
Acknowledging, the importance of attachment has been in helpful development of couples therapy, in particular to Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), “where it helps explain how even healthy adults need to depend on each other,” (Nichols, 2013, p. 62). EFT is an empirically validated experiential therapy model that works with emotion to create change. EFT therapists use “attachment theory to deconstruct the familiar dynamic in which one partner criticizes and complains while the other gets defensive and withdraws,” (Nichols, 2013, p.63). Research has demonstrated the importance of attachment in individuals. It is not solely a childhood trait attachment is a trait that individuals carry for the rest of their lives. Nonetheless, it is important to work on the attachments with families and couples in order to alleviate some of the negative interactions that arise from feeling a fear of losing the attachment with
What is one of the largest problems with families in the United States? One of the problems that has been growing for years now is divorce. In the United States, about forty to fifty percent of people, who get married, get divorces in their lifetime (Kazdin, 2000). When families choose to get a divorce, they are effecting everyone around them. If children are involve, the impact could be even worse. There are ways to help families to not get a divorce but not all divorces can be overturned. One of these marriage saving strategies is marriage counseling and pre-marriage counseling.
The techniques used in marriage and family counseling can be different. For instance, counselors will sometimes handle family therapy in different ways than they would couples or marital therapy. Both family and marriage c...
As a psychology major I have learned a lot about different types of theories, and how each of them look at the presenting problem differently, and use variety of interventions to help the clients through their journey. Although I have been interested to several of these theories, I was shocked how Dialectic Behavioral Therapy can change the clients’ behavior through teaching them skills such as mindfulness, Distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and Emotional regulation. As my last assignment in DBT class, I was asked to practice, observe an emotional regulation, and write about my experience, which I did and will explain in this paper. However, I could have done the emotional regulation observation with one of my clients, I decided to do this exercise with my uncle, who I have lived with since 4 years
Diplomats have very important duties to fulfill, the most important being to advocate for their country to representatives from other nations. These diplomats and their families help to facilitate and ensure that the country they represent has a positive relationship among other nations. The life of a diplomat and their family is not as great as it seems at face value (“Life through the Eyes of a Diplomat’s Wife”). On the surface, it seems to be a very glamorous life style accompanied by expensive cars, nice houses, fancy parties, extensive travels, and so much more; but in reality it is not as luxurious as it appears (“Quote: The Role of the Ambassador’s Wife”). In order for this whole system to work, it requires a delicate balancing act of people and countries for it to be successful.
There are so many different types of family relationships. Whatever form a family takes; it is an important part of everyone’s life. My family has played an important role in my life. Good family relationships serve as a foundation to interactions with others. Supportive families will help children to thrive. The quality of the family relationship is more important than the size of the family. Making the relationships priority, communication, and providing support for one another is key to developing relationships. Family relationships are what make up our world today; they shape the ways that we see things and the ways that we do things.