Addressing Power in Couples Therapy: Integrating Socio-Emotional Relationship Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy

Authors: Amanda Jenks, Gwen Adams, Bonnie Young, Ryan Seedall

Source: https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12961

Full text can be requested here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376813434_Addressing_power_in_couples_therapy_Integrating_socio-emotional_relationship_therapy_and_emotionally_focused_therapy

What Is Practically Relevant About This Study?

This study examines the integration of two significant therapeutic approaches – Socio-Emotional Relationship Therapy (SERT) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) – with the goal of effectively addressing power imbalances in couple relationships. Power imbalances can negatively impact engagement and emotional security in a relationship, which can diminish the effectiveness of traditional therapeutic approaches such as EFT. The study highlights that incorporating SERT into EFT practice helps therapists better understand and address the social and cultural influences on power structures in relationships.

A practical application of this study’s findings could involve therapists specifically addressing power imbalances in couple therapy. For example, a therapist might encourage the more powerful partner to become aware of and address the emotional needs of the other partner, which is described in the study as a first step toward creating a safe space for both partners. The combination of these methods allows not only for changes in immediate relationship patterns but also for the recognition and addressing of deeper socio-cultural influences. A practical example might involve helping couples identify and question the social and cultural norms that influence their relationship in order to foster a more balanced distribution of power.

Methodology of the Study

The study is based on a theoretical and conceptual integration of the two therapeutic approaches, SERT and EFT. The authors first provide an overview of the two models and discuss their strengths and weaknesses in addressing power imbalances in couple relationships. The methodology includes a comprehensive literature review as well as the analysis of clinical case studies to demonstrate the practical application of the integrated approaches. The study places particular emphasis on understanding the social and cultural discourses that shape power dynamics in couples and how these can be specifically addressed in therapy.

Limitations

One of the main limitations of this study is that it relies on theoretical considerations and case studies without providing extensive empirical data. Additionally, the study primarily focuses on heterosexual couples, which may limit the applicability of the findings to other relationship configurations. Further empirical research would be necessary to validate the effectiveness of the proposed integration in different cultural and social contexts.

Peer-Review

This study was published in the “Family Process” journal, a peer-reviewed journal.

Disclosure

This text was generated with the help of ChatGPT and was editorially reviewed. The study contents were not used as training material, and the analysis was conducted in compliance with current best practices regarding copyright.