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It Takes Two? An Exploration of Processes and Outcomes in a Two‐Session Couple Intervention
Author(s) -
Bradford Kay,
Mock D. Jim,
Stewart J. Wade
Publication year - 2016
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/jmft.12144
Subject(s) - intervention (counseling) , session (web analytics) , psychology , distress , qualitative research , therapeutic relationship , psychotherapist , perception , clinical psychology , social psychology , applied psychology , psychiatry , computer science , social science , neuroscience , sociology , world wide web
Although relationship distress is common, couples often forego professional help due to concerns such as time constraints, financial costs, and stigma. The two‐session relationship checkup is an alternative format of couple intervention developed to address these concerns. In this qualitative study, we interviewed 20 coupled participants and six clinicians to examine the checkup's processes and outcomes. The phenomenological themes that emerged revealed sequential processes by which this format works. Couple themes included client motivation, the therapeutic relationship, and therapeutic change in terms of perceptions and behaviors—particularly with regard to communication. Clinician data largely mirrored these themes. The results suggest the intervention addressed barriers to help‐seeking and may be a viable selective option for at‐risk couples.