Couples' Experience of Attachment-Related Change in Context of Couple-Centered, Enactment-Based Therapy Process and Therapist-Centered Therapy Process: A Qualitative Study
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Enactments consist of episodes of direct couple engagement being carefully monitored and coached by the therapist. Enactments have been identified and studied as a potential common factor in marriage and family therapy. Attachment security is considered to be a foundational marker of marital health. This study explored what role enactments play in promoting attachment-related outcomes in therapy. A qualitative group hermeneutic approach was used to analyze the interviews of twelve participants (six couples) who had participated in six experimental sessions: three sessions with a preponderance of therapist-centered process and three of enactment-based process. The results of this analysis provide a general profile of participants' experiences of these two approaches in therapy and contribute to an emerging framework to inform potential best practice of enactments for helping couples work towards more secure attachment. Major findings include the importance of therapeutic alliance and sequencing of interventions for promoting positive attachment-related outcomes.
Author: James W. Ballard
Institution: Brigham Young University
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W759908106