Premature termination in couple therapy as a part of therapeutic process.

Abstract

SummaryAim of the study: The paper presents the qualitative study of premature termination in couple therapy. The aim of the research was to answer why couples drop-out from couple therapy at the early stage of treatment. Subject: To understand the complexity of this event the researchers decided to examine the phenomenon of early drop-out from three different perspectives, that is: from therapists and both spouses point of view. methods:The therapists and couples that ended the therapy prematurely were interviewed. Among examined drop-out cases, there were selected three which fulfilled the criteria for early drop-out. Data were analyzed according to the method of cross-case analysis. Results. As a result common categories were singled out which were characteristic for those three cases of drop-out. Discussion: The distinguished categories of 'the split of the working alliance' and 'the split of the therapeutic bond' show that the conflict which the couple brought to the therapy was reflected in their experience of the therapy and the therapist. Conclusions: Premature termination in couple therapy is a part of therapeutic process.couple therapy / drop-out / qualitative research / therapeutic process

Pressure to Attend Therapy, Dyadic Adjustment, and Adverse Childhood Experiences: Direct and Indirect Effects on the Therapeutic Alliance in Couples Therapy

“…If not careful, the therapist may perpetuate this initial imbalance into later sessions. Such imbalanced or split alliances are both frequent (Muñiz de la Pena, Friedlander & Escudero, ) and associated with negative treatment outcomes (Jurek, Janusz, Chwal, & de Barbaro, ; Muñiz de la Peña, Friedlander & Escudero, ; Robbins, Turner, Alexander, & Perez, ).…”

Dyadic Coping in Couple Therapy Process: An Exploratory Study

“…In comparison to couples with positive outcomes, couples who dropped out of treatment were not engaged early in therapy, a finding consistent with our clinical observations. Therapists can often help couples to resolve their conflicts, but couple therapists face greater hurdles in creating emotion when couples have lost or never had the emotional motivation to engage one another, even in the context of seeking therapy for their relationship (Jurek, Janusz, Chwal, & de Barbaro, ).…”