Dominique N. Walker, Khoi Nguyen Anh Le, Zhihan Su, Keturah Cochren-Albright, Claudine Lucena, Jixuan Zhao, Rashmi Gangamma
{"title":"Associations Between Relational Ethics With Parental Marital Quality and Family Adversity in Family of Origin","authors":"Dominique N. Walker, Khoi Nguyen Anh Le, Zhihan Su, Keturah Cochren-Albright, Claudine Lucena, Jixuan Zhao, Rashmi Gangamma","doi":"10.1111/jmft.70105","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jmft.70105","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In this study, we examined whether family adversity and parental marital quality were associated with family-of-origin relational ethics, a hallmark feature of contextual therapy theory. Data were collected from 211 adult clients at a university-based therapy center between 2014 and 2018. A three-step hierarchical regression model was tested, controlling for age and gender. Parental marital happiness and parental infidelity, as well as indicators of family adversity such as physical abuse experiences and living with a parent or caregiver with drug dependence in childhood, significantly correlated with family-of-origin relationships. The entire model explained 45% of the variance of the outcome. Findings provide empirical evidence of the relationship between recalled experiences of family adversity, parental marital quality, and relational ethics in one's family, as hypothesized by contextual therapy theory. Clinical implications of these findings include the need for a thorough assessment of family-of-origin factors and relational dynamics when working with adult individuals.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":16320,"journal":{"name":"Journal of marital and family therapy","volume":"52 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145714487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sydney Crane, Monica C. Osterbauer, Nicole Piland, Abagail Satterfield
{"title":"Marriage and Family Therapists in Pediatric Integrated Specialty Care Settings: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis","authors":"Sydney Crane, Monica C. Osterbauer, Nicole Piland, Abagail Satterfield","doi":"10.1111/jmft.70101","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jmft.70101","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Pediatric Integrated Specialty Care (PISC), where children receive treatment for complex health conditions alongside behavioral health support, is an emerging area of clinical practice and professional training. Medical family therapists (MedFTs) contribute uniquely in these settings by integrating medical and psychosocial dimensions of care. This study explored the experiences of marriage and family therapy (MFT) trainees and professionals (<i>n</i> = 8) working in PISC through interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Findings revealed seven themes illustrating challenges and opportunities in role negotiation, professional identity formation, and competency-based growth within high-acuity pediatric environments. Participants emphasized systemic skills, relational presence, communication, adaptability, and patience as central to effective collaboration in interdisciplinary teams. Their reflections underscored the importance of experiential learning, supervision, and advanced coursework in medical literacy to strengthen preparedness for PISC practice. Implications are discussed surrounding the integration of national interprofessional competencies to align MedFT education with the unique demands of pediatric specialty care.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16320,"journal":{"name":"Journal of marital and family therapy","volume":"52 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145700746","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Michal Finkelstein, Michal Toporek, Erga Kapulnik, Avital Laufer
{"title":"The Experience of Family Therapists Working With Traumatized Families Using the FOCUS (Families OverComing Under Stress) Treatment Program","authors":"Michal Finkelstein, Michal Toporek, Erga Kapulnik, Avital Laufer","doi":"10.1111/jmft.70099","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jmft.70099","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This qualitative study explores the experiences of Israeli therapists implementing the FOCUS (Families OverComing Under Stress) intervention. Originally developed for US military families, the FOCUS model was adapted to support civilian families exposed to chronic trauma. Through in-depth interviews with 13 therapists, the study identified three main themes: the shift from individual to family trauma-focused care, acquisition of new therapeutic tools, and challenges in implementation. Therapists emphasized the importance of addressing trauma within the family system but reported lacking appropriate tools before using FOCUS. The program offered structured yet adaptable methods to help families reconstruct a shared narrative and strengthen resilience. Challenges included the need for prior family therapy experience, intensive supervision, and difficulties recruiting all family members. The findings support the integration of trauma-informed care and family therapy, highlighting the need for further research on FOCUS's long-term effects and adaptability in diverse settings involving all family members.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16320,"journal":{"name":"Journal of marital and family therapy","volume":"52 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145678079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Patricia Starken, Peter Stratton, Aideen Kieran, Hannah Sherbersky, Melanie Shepherd, Michael Galbraith, Naureen Whittinger, Valeria Pomini, Kunsang Yang Yang, Finiki Nearchou, Mark Shevlin, Alan Carr
{"title":"Further Validation of the Couple Relationship Scale","authors":"Patricia Starken, Peter Stratton, Aideen Kieran, Hannah Sherbersky, Melanie Shepherd, Michael Galbraith, Naureen Whittinger, Valeria Pomini, Kunsang Yang Yang, Finiki Nearchou, Mark Shevlin, Alan Carr","doi":"10.1111/jmft.70100","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jmft.70100","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study aimed to build on previous research by S. R. Anderson et al. in 2022 and further validate the Couple Relationship Scale (CRS), a routine outcome measure for use in couple therapy. Using data from a community sample (<i>N</i> = 300, Mean age = 41.61, 49% females), confirmatory factor analysis supported a robust single-factor structure with no evidence of gender-based measurement invariance. The CRS demonstrated excellent internal consistency reliability. Strong concurrent validity was evidenced by strong correlations with established measures of couple functioning and moderate correlations with mental health and well-being scales. CRS items showed expected associations with corresponding subscales of other measures of relational functioning and well-being scales. Scores were largely independent of demographic variables. CRS shows promise as a psychometrically sound tool to bridge the research-practice gap in couple therapy, although further validation in clinical populations is warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":16320,"journal":{"name":"Journal of marital and family therapy","volume":"52 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12675855/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145668774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Communication and Couple Satisfaction of Women in Cross-National Marriages and Korean Husbands: Mediating Effect of Intimacy","authors":"Mikyung Seo, Hyekyung Choo, Hwa-ok Bae","doi":"10.1111/jmft.70098","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70098","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study examined gender differences in couple satisfaction and communication patterns between women in cross-national marriages and their Korean husbands, couple satisfaction levels varying by communication patterns, and the mediating effect of intimacy on the relationship between communication and couple satisfaction. The study sample is 161 couples of women in cross-national marriages and their Korean husbands residing in Gyeongnam Province, South Korea. Women in cross-national marriages reported significantly lower couple satisfaction and revealed more negative communication patterns compared to their Korean husbands. Couples where both spouses engaged in positive communication experienced the highest levels of couple satisfaction. Multi-group structural equation modeling suggested the mediating effect of intimacy on the relationship between communication and couple satisfaction for both women in cross-national marriages and Korean husbands. These findings have implications for developing policy and practice interventions enhancing couple satisfaction among women in cross-national marriages and their Korean husbands through improved communication and intimacy.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16320,"journal":{"name":"Journal of marital and family therapy","volume":"52 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145626563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maidy O'Brien, Christina Kini-Seery, Caitlin Kelly, Ken Kilbride, Margo Wrigley, Finiki Nearchou, Jessica Bramham
{"title":"“I Felt Like a Burden”: An Exploration Into the Experience of Romantic Relationships for People With ADHD","authors":"Maidy O'Brien, Christina Kini-Seery, Caitlin Kelly, Ken Kilbride, Margo Wrigley, Finiki Nearchou, Jessica Bramham","doi":"10.1111/jmft.70097","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70097","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Romantic relationships can have additional complexities for individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The present study employed Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) to explore what challenges adults with ADHD have experienced in their romantic relationships. Adults with ADHD (<i>N</i> = 355) answered an open-ended survey question asking if and how their ADHD had negatively impacted their romantic relationships. RTA resulted in four overarching themes and seven subthemes. <i>Too Much and Never Enough: The Emotional Rollercoaster of Rejection Sensitivity</i> and <i>The Struggle for Stability: ADHD's Battle Between Passion and Distraction</i>, encapsulated the relational challenges individuals with ADHD face associated with their ADHD traits. Between <i>Partner and Caregiver: The Emotional and Practical Strain in ADHD Relationships</i> highlighted the sometimes-unbalanced dynamic in relationships. <i>From Chaos to Clarity: The Role of Self-Understanding in Love</i> explored the detriments of lacking self-insight and the transformative impact of self-awareness. Findings underscore the complicated interplay between ADHD traits, self-perception, and romantic relationships.</p>","PeriodicalId":16320,"journal":{"name":"Journal of marital and family therapy","volume":"52 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jmft.70097","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145626624","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of ChatGPT Feedback on the Outcomes of a Web-Based Self-Care Support Tool Based on Solution-Focused Brief Therapy","authors":"Gen Takagi, Miki Hagidai, Kohei Koiwa","doi":"10.1111/jmft.70096","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70096","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Large language models can provide personalized feedback within web-based self-care support tools. This study investigated the impact of ChatGPT feedback, which provided advice aimed at improving the concreteness and realism of the user's goals, in a self-care support tool based on solution-focused brief therapy. Participants were randomly assigned to the ChatGPT group (<i>n</i> = 92) or the control group (<i>n</i> = 82). The tool comprised eight components: problem definition, miracle question, goal setting, machine learning model-based feedback on goals, ChatGPT feedback (ChatGPT group), goal re-setting, exception question, and ideas for problem solving. Our findings indicated that the self-care support tool was effective, improving solution building, positive affect, the level of realization of the ideal life, and problem severity in both groups. The additional effect of incorporating ChatGPT feedback was demonstrated only for problem severity. These results suggest that self-care support tools are effective, with ChatGPT feedback providing an added benefit for problem severity.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16320,"journal":{"name":"Journal of marital and family therapy","volume":"52 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145626346","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chi-Fang Tseng, Jiayi Liu, Hamed M. Fatahian-Tehran, Ting Liu
{"title":"Emotion Access and Navigation in Chinese Couples: Insights and Adaptations From Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy Therapists","authors":"Chi-Fang Tseng, Jiayi Liu, Hamed M. Fatahian-Tehran, Ting Liu","doi":"10.1111/jmft.70093","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jmft.70093","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT) has been well-documented, yet its application with Chinese couples remains underexplored. This is the first qualitative study examining therapists' perspectives on using EFCT with Chinese couples in clinical settings. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 20 therapists from mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong revealed that therapists viewed EFCT as a useful approach for Chinese couples. EFCT was reported to be helpful for couples with relationship distress and mental health concerns. However, therapists emphasized the importance of understanding cultural values and nuances that influence presenting problems. Overall, therapists recommended adjusting EFCT skills to better serve the needs of Chinese couples, understanding cultural impacts on couples' presenting problems, and incorporating additional components and training for therapists working with Chinese couples. These findings provide a foundation for culturally adapted EFCT, ensuring its relevance for Chinese couples while honoring their unique relational and cultural contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":16320,"journal":{"name":"Journal of marital and family therapy","volume":"52 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jmft.70093","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145563185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Supervisor's Positioning in Systemic Training: Complex Relational Space and Significant Oscillations","authors":"Gerardo Reséndiz Juárez, Laura Fruggeri","doi":"10.1111/jmft.70095","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jmft.70095","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The present study focuses on the positionings adopted by supervisors in systemic psychotherapy supervision within teams of therapists-in-training. The participants were five supervisors working with their respective teams. The study centers on the supervisors' positionings in relation to their supervisees and adopts an exploratory, qualitative methodology, structured as a single-case design with multiple units of analysis. The procedure involved the videorecording of pre-sessions, inter-sessions, and post-sessions. These recordings were transcribed and analyzed using discourse analysis. The material was reviewed multiple times. Sixteen distinct supervisor positionings were identified. Among these, confirming, directivity, and reflexivity emerged as three fundamental positionings. Additionally, a distinctive supervisory movement, termed <i>“significant oscillation,”</i> was identified. The analysis highlights supervision as a complex relational space where the supervisor's positioning within the interactive process plays a crucial role in the supervisees' learning.</p>","PeriodicalId":16320,"journal":{"name":"Journal of marital and family therapy","volume":"52 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jmft.70095","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145573704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jessica L. Chou, Bertranna A. Muruthi, E. Stephanie Krauthamer-Ewing, Laura Lynch, Erika Feeney, Deepa Sai Avula, Troi Rutherford, Vivian Tyler, Amanda Stafford McRell
{"title":"Couple/Marriage and Family Therapists Extent of Training Experiences for Racism-Related Stress and Racial Trauma","authors":"Jessica L. Chou, Bertranna A. Muruthi, E. Stephanie Krauthamer-Ewing, Laura Lynch, Erika Feeney, Deepa Sai Avula, Troi Rutherford, Vivian Tyler, Amanda Stafford McRell","doi":"10.1111/jmft.70090","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jmft.70090","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The goal of this study was to explore racism-related stress and racial trauma training experiences among couple/marriage and family therapists (C/MFTs). A mixed method convergent design was used to collect data from graduate level C/FMTs. A total of <i>N</i> = 71 participants completed online surveys, and <i>n</i> = 18 individuals completed interviews. Results indicated 45.1% (<i>n</i> = 32) of participants reported taking one course in their department that addressed racial stress and/or trauma. Individuals with 2–3, or 4+ courses focusing on racial trauma reported increased satisfaction with educational experiences compared to those with zero (<i>F</i> [3, 58] = 4.29, <i>p</i> = 0.009]. Data integration yielded two themes: (1) Minimal racism-related stress and racial trauma education experiences, and (2) Inevitability of working with families impacted by racial trauma and not feeling prepared. Training recommendations are provided for the inclusion of racism-related stress coursework among graduate level training programs.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16320,"journal":{"name":"Journal of marital and family therapy","volume":"52 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145564286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}