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Moving Up the Continuum of Hope: Developing a Theory of Hope and Understanding its Influence in Couples Therapy
Author(s) -
Ward David B.,
Wampler Karen S.
Publication year - 2010
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.1752-0606.2009.00173.x
Subject(s) - conceptualization , grounded theory , psychological intervention , psychotherapist , psychology , family therapy , foundation (evidence) , qualitative research , context (archaeology) , social psychology , sociology , psychiatry , social science , paleontology , archaeology , artificial intelligence , biology , computer science , history
For years therapists have suggested that hope is an important catalyst in the process of change. This study takes a grounded theory approach to address the need for a clearer conceptualization of hope, and to place interventions that increase hope within a therapeutic context so that therapists know how and when to use those interventions. Fifteen active and experienced marriage and family therapists from across the United States participated in hour‐long phone interviews about hope in couples therapy. Moving Up the Continuum of Hope emerged as the core category from the grounded theory analysis of the data. This category represents a process, with general and specific conditions and consequences that increase a couple’s level of hope. This study serves as a foundation for future process research on couples therapy, as well as research on hope in other contexts (e.g., individual and family therapy) and with other perspectives (e.g., clients).