The impacts of incarceration extend to the entire family system. The relational impact of incarceration is compounded by the increasing stressors romantic partners experience during incarceration. Romantic relationships are multifaceted and necessitate honoring the voices at the center of experience that are often silenced. Individuals in a romantic relationship with an incarcerated individual were interviewed to understand their lived experience using a phenomenological approach. Five themes (stigma, mental health services, suggestions, impact of incarceration, and limitations) emerged from the eight interviews. Implications are discussed to advocate for this population through research and clinical work.

Those with an incarcerated loved one have been shown to experience isolation and difficulty navigating the criminal justice system as well as form connections with others who are experiencing a similar situation. The use of social media allows for individuals to connect with others in similar experiences. For those with an incarcerated loved one, the use of Facebook allows for connection with others who are also navigating incarceration. Posts were collected from a Facebook group “Incarcerated Loved Ones,” with multiple themes emerging. The themes that emerged from the posts are sharing experiences and seeking connection. The codes for sharing experiences include updates on loved ones, negative emotional experiences, and venting. The codes for seeking connection include prayers and good news. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Individuals with an incarcerated loved one are often overlooked when discussing the impacts of incarceration. It can be difficult for these individuals to navigate the criminal justice system, as well as form meaningful connections and obtain support from others that are experiencing a similar situation. Social media allows for connections to be made between individuals in similar situations that might not be geographically close to one another. Specifically, for those with an incarcerated loved one, the Facebook group “Incarcerated Loved Ones” allows for meaningful connection to others who are navigating incarceration. Posts were collected from this Facebook group, with the themes emerging including COVID, information seeking, and advocacy. Findings, as well as future directions, will be discussed.

Each year, millions of marriages end up in divorce which can cause teenagers to experience multiple physiological and psychological issues. Cognitive Behavioral Family Therapy (CBFT) has become increasingly popular among family therapists in recent decades, who utilize it either as a stand-alone technique within a system perspective or integrated into other approaches with couples and family therapy. There is a gap in the literature regarding the utilization of CBFT to a divorced family of Hispanic/Latinx descent with an adolescent who developed an eating disorder. The overall aim of this article is to provide insight for marriage and family therapists (MFTs), other mental health professionals, professors/teachers, researchers, and virtually everyone. The researchers hope to provide the ability to conceptualize eating disorders in a way that promotes empathy, compassion, and awareness. Barriers unique to Hispanic/Latinx families, clinical implications, and future directions will be discussed.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented global morbidity and mortality which altered people's daily lives, as well as created multiple societal challenges. One significant problem posed by this unique stressor is maintaining healthy intimate relationships, which are linked to mental and physical health. The literature has shown that the pandemic has exacerbated issues for couples such as financial difficulties, a lack of privacy, medical issues, and family and professional concerns. The pandemic has also forced all healthcare systems, hospitals, and clinics to quickly incorporate telehealth services. The number of requests for mental health consultations has risen to the point where demand exceeds supply. This paper provides an overview of ways couples can stay emotionally connected during this time as well as provide future directions for therapists to help couples develop or improve adaptive relationship mechanisms.