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PROCESS DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE THERAPISTS IN A FIRST FAMILY INTERVIEW
Author(s) -
Shields Cleveland G.,
McDaniel Susan H.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of marital and family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.868
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1752-0606
pISSN - 0194-472X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-0606.1992.tb00925.x
Subject(s) - directive , psychology , family therapy , coding (social sciences) , clinical psychology , medicine , psychotherapist , statistics , mathematics , computer science , programming language
This paper reports a study of 63 initial interviews of structural‐strategic therapy with families with child‐focused problems. These interviews were analyzed to determine differences in the process of therapy between male and female therapists. We tested specifically for differences in joining and executive skills between male and female therapists. Transcripts made from audiotapes of the interviews were coded with the Therapeutic Interaction Coding System (TICS). Thirtyseven cases completed therapy, and 26 dropped out of therapy against therapists' advice. There were no significant differences in male and female therapists' case completion rates. The overall level of supportive statements was not significantly different between males and females. Family members made more structuring or directive statements toward male therapists, but stated more disagreement with other family members when their therapist was female. Male therapists made more explanation statements than female therapists in response to family members' structuring or disagreement statements. In addition, we tested for differences in activity level and found that male therapists made more statements overall than did female therapists.