Bridging Emotion, Societal Discourse, and Couple Interaction in Clinical Practice

Knudson‐Martin, Carmen; Huenergardt, Douglas

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-13398-0_1

Cited by 14 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…To illustrate, men may not intentionally dominate decision-making processes. Instead, they might subconsciously allow female partners to make accommodations in favor of their preferences instead of considering her needs and perspectives (Knudson-Martin & Huenergardt, 2015).…”

Section: Gender and Power In Couple Relationshipsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Addressing power in couples therapy: Integrating socio‐emotional relationship therapy and emotionally focused therapy

Jenks,

Adams,

Young

et al. 2023

Family Process

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Romantic relationships are more satisfying and fulfilling when power is balanced relatively equally between partners (Leonhardt et al., Journal of Family Psychology, 34, 2020, and 1). Yet, few couples therapy models explicitly outline how to confront relational power issues (Knudson‐Martin & Huenergardt, 2015, Socio‐emotional relationship therapy: Bridging emotion, societal context, and couple interaction, Springer). Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT; Johnson, 2020, The practice of emotionally focused couple therapy, Routledge) is a well‐established, evidence‐based therapy modality that many therapists use with couple clients, yet despite its effectiveness, it does not provide direction for explicitly addressing and treating power differentials in couple relationships. In this paper, we explore the integration of EFT with Socio‐emotional Relationship Therapy (SERT), a model overlay that acknowledges the impact of social discourse on enactments of power in intimate couple relationships. We first address the importance of understanding power in couple relationships, addressing power in couples therapy, and provide a brief overview of SERT and EFT. We then introduce an integration of the models intended to help therapists balance power, increase connection, and secure attachment bonds between romantic partners.

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Section: Gender and Power In Couple Relationshipsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Addressing power in couples therapy: Integrating socio‐emotional relationship therapy and emotionally focused therapy

Jenks,

Adams,

Young

et al. 2023

Family Process

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“…SERT assessment and interventions emphasize four processes that serve as a foundation to equitable, mutually supportive relationships (Knudson-Martin, 2015). We refer to these as the Circle of Care.…”

Section: Positioning Therapy Within Sociocultural Discoursementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our larger action research project began over twelve years ago utilizing a process similar to the consensual qualitative approach (Hill et al., 1997), in which teams of researchers iteratively analyzed their clinical practice, taking into account multiple perspectives until a shared understanding was reached. We discovered what worked, made changes in response to the findings, identified a set of clinical competencies for working with sociocultural context and power (Knudson‐Martin et al., 2015), and developed a clinical sequence (Knudson‐Martin, 2015). We also used a series of grounded theory analyses to study particular questions arising out of this work (Knudson‐Martin et al., 2018).…”

Section: Conceptualization Of the Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Sociocultural Attunement to Vulnerability in Couple Therapy: Fulcrum for Changing Power Processes in Heterosexual Relationships

et al. 2021

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Increasingly, couple therapists are called to promote equity in their clinical practice, yet little research illuminates the intricacy of doing this work. The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical processes involved when therapists facilitate a more equitable balance of power in couple relationships while utilizing a sociocontextual frame of reference. It is part of larger research explicating Socio‐Emotional Relationship Therapy (SERT), an approach that places equity and social justice at the core. The sample included 72 SERT sessions with nine heterosoexual couples in which there was an observable power difference between partners. Using Charmaz’s (2014, Constructing grounded theory: A practical guide through qualitative analysis, Sage) grounded theory coding, theoretical sampling, and interpretive methods, we examined therapist/client responses over multiple sessions to explain shifts in the couples’ power balance. Analysis identified sociocultural attunement to vulnerability as the core clinical process and detailed five sociocultural expressions: socialized vulnerability, socialized invulnerability, reactive (in)vulnerability, reactive vulnerability, and shared vulnerability. Shifts in power involved each of three therapist stances: (a) identification of the societal power context of vulnerability, (b) therapist leadership and responsive persistence, and (c) facilitating mutual sociocultural attunement to vulnerability to promote shared relational responsibility and influence. Implications address the connections between power and vulnerability in couples work and what therapists can do to more effectively facilitate relational equity.

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“…The SERT approach involves three phases that build upon each other: (I) establishing an equitable foundation for therapy, (II) interrupting the flow of power, and (III) facilitating alternative experience (Knudson‐Martin & Huenergardt, ).…”

Section: Sociocultural Attunement and The Sert Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Socio‐Emotional Relationship Therapy (SERT) is an approach that takes this position. It begins with sociocultural attunement and works from a model of mutual support and equality that challenges the effects of societal‐based power processes (Knudson‐Martin & Huenergardt, , ; Knudson‐Martin et al., ). In this study we explore how we apply these practices in our work with North American heterosexual couples of Asian heritage.…”

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confidence: 99%

Addressing Culture, Gender, and Power with Asian American Couples: Application of Socio‐Emotional Relationship Therapy

ChenFeng

Kim

et al. 2016

Family Process

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Asian Americans juggle the intersections of multiple social identities and societal discourses as they respond to experiences of immigration, marginalization, and patriarchy, integrate collectivist and individualistic family values, and form families and intimate relationships. In this study we examine what we have learned as we apply Socio-Emotional Relationship Therapy (SERT) with heterosexual couples of Asian heritage. SERT begins with sociocultural attunement and the assumption that relationships should mutually support each partner. Drawing on case examples, we illustrate how we practice sociocultural attunement as couples respond to the relational processes that comprise the Circle of Care (mutual influence, vulnerability, attunement, and shared relational responsibility). We emphasize three key socioemotional themes that intersect with gender: (1) intangible loss; (2) quiet fortitude/not burdening others; and (3) duty to the family.

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Bridging Emotion, Societal Discourse, and Couple Interaction in Clinical Practice

Cited by 14 publications

References 23 publications

Addressing power in couples therapy: Integrating socio‐emotional relationship therapy and emotionally focused therapy

Addressing power in couples therapy: Integrating socio‐emotional relationship therapy and emotionally focused therapy

Sociocultural Attunement to Vulnerability in Couple Therapy: Fulcrum for Changing Power Processes in Heterosexual Relationships

Addressing Culture, Gender, and Power with Asian American Couples: Application of Socio‐Emotional Relationship Therapy

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