The study aimed to provide validity evidence and reliability of the Scale of Myths of Romantic Love (SMRL) in Peru among young and adult individuals. Focusing on how romantic love myths affect relationship satisfaction and their ties to interpersonal violence, sexism, and gender inequality, the methodology involved 308 participants, mainly females (75%), using the SMRL and Relationship Assessment Scale. Bayesian Confirmatory Factor Analysis (BCFA) assessed the scale's structure and reliability, complemented by descriptive statistics and correlation analyses to examine the myths' impact on intimate relationships. Results showed the SMRL's two-dimensional structure, confirming its robust psychometric properties and satisfactory internal consistency. Descriptive findings revealed a skeptical view of traditional romantic myths among participants, indicating the scale's good reliability and successful adaptation to the Peruvian context. This validation highlights how debunking romantic love myths can improve relationship dynamics and satisfaction and addresses their wider societal effects.

Forgiveness plays an important role in couple relationships, as it is essential in overcoming interpersonal offenses and related to the well-being of the relationship. To date, no valid instruments are available for Spanish populations to evaluate forgiveness within marital relationships. This study aims to adapt and evaluate the Marital Offense-Specific Forgiveness Scale (MOFS), comparing the behavior of the scale in two cultural contexts: Spain and the United States. Two studies were conducted: the first with 389 participants to evaluate the behavior of the scale and to explore the dimensionality of the Spanish version of the MOFS using exploratory factor analysis (EFA); the second study used a sample of 361 Spanish and 119 American participants, conducting a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and an invariance factor analysis. The EFA revealed two factors: Avoidance-Resentment and Benevolence. Using CFA, the factorial structure of the MOFS was confirmed, with results indicating that the proposed model presents a similar fit to the original version.

Little is known about the individual factors that potentiate communication conflict in romantic relationships. This study examined the main and interactive effects of two types of emotion regulation in 1240 couples enrolled in an online relationship intervention. Results revealed that higher levels of actors' communication conflict were associated with actors' greater negative urgency and lower cognitive reappraisal. Furthermore, actors' cognitive reappraisal acted as an inhibitor of communication conflict, but only for actors with low levels of negative urgency. Partner effects on perceived actor conflict followed a similar pattern. There was no evidence that the emotion regulation of one partner moderated the effect of the emotion regulation of the other. These results highlight the importance of considering the contribution of couples' emotion regulation in the etiology of their communication conflict and selecting interventions that best match their emotion regulation needs.

The current research explored the dyadic relationships between general psychological distress (GPD) and coparenting dimensions (cooperation, conflict, triangulation) through the mediation of couple satisfaction among parents with young children. The sample comprised 184 heterosexual couples (184 mothers, 184 fathers, age range from 25 to 57 years) married for 10 years on average. The actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) and APIM Mediation Model analyses demonstrated significant relationships between mothers' and fathers' GPD and all three of their own coparenting dimensions (direct actor effects), also through their own couple satisfaction (indirect actor-actor effects). Additionally, mothers' GPD had direct effects on fathers' coparenting cooperation (partner effect). Fathers' GPD had significant indirect effects on all dimensions of mothers' coparenting through mothers' couple satisfaction (partner-actor effects), plus on mothers' coparenting triangulation through fathers' couple satisfaction (actor-partner effect). Findings were in line with Family System Theory and consistent with prior research. Clinical implications were discussed.

This pilot study examined predictors of change in relationship distress and depressive symptoms over the course of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) in a one-arm, pragmatic clinical trial of 17 couples in Taiwan. Results revealed that masculine ideology, feminine ideology, traditionalism, and emotional expressivity at intake predicted change in relationship distress. Specifically, women's high traditional gender roles and traditionalism and both partners' high emotional expressivity at intake were associated with decreases in relationship distress over time. In addition, attachment and emotional expressivity predicted change in depressive symptoms. Specifically, high attachment avoidance, high attachment anxiety, and high emotional expressivity at intake were associated with decreases in depressive symptoms over time. While more research is needed, these findings offer preliminary support for the types of partners who may experience more improvement after receiving EFT in Taiwan.

Tom Andersen's reflecting team approach invited family members to hear the dialogues between professionals in response to their stories. This study aimed to explore intersubjective reflexivity during reflecting team group supervision, by observing resonances between group members. Twelve hours of reflecting team group supervision was transcribed and analyzed using Systemic Functional Linguistics. Hallidayan transitivity analysis of selected sections of interaction focused on mental processes, and Martin and White's appraisal framework was used to explore the "engagement" between different voices at play in the conversations. We found the use of physical metaphor to express reflective experiences, multi-voiced expressions to expand perspectives and possibilities, and dialogical patterns of relating between group therapy participants. Understanding dialogism from a linguistic perspective may offer insights into how reflective dialogues work and support understanding of fidelity for approaches which engage reflecting teams.

Providing therapy to families of separation and divorce can be a challenging area of practice for marriage and family therapists, particularly when a child refuses contact with a parent. Several forms of "reunification therapy" designed to overcome resist/refuse dynamics between a child and parent have been proposed, with significant variation across the conceptualization of factors contributing to parent-child contact problems and the resulting treatment models that have been described. In an effort to design an overarching integrative framework for conducting family reunification therapy that is informed by available evidence, a review of the current literature is conducted. Following this review, an integrative single-therapist framework for resolving parent-child contact problems is presented. Over the course of three successive treatment "stages," this framework permits a marriage and family therapist to conduct reunification therapy in an evidence-informed manner along general systemic therapeutic principles while permitting flexibility with respect to the specific interventions selected.

This study explores whether marital quality mediates the effects of a parenting intervention on preschoolers' conduct problems and effortful control. Using data from 209 children in a two-wave randomized controlled trial of the Hitkashrut program, participants were assigned to either a 14-session co-parent training group or a minimal intervention control group. Intent-to-treat analysis revealed that improvements in marital quality significantly mediated the intervention's impact on both conduct problems and effortful control. An alternative model, which hypothesized that changes in child behavior would lead to improvements in marital quality, was not supported, reinforcing the importance of targeting marital dynamics to achieve better child outcomes. These findings highlight the potential of marital-focused strategies within parenting interventions to foster healthier family environments and improve long-term developmental trajectories in children.

Tracking therapeutic processes and outcomes session to session, known as feedback-informed treatment (FIT), has shown many significant benefits for systemic family therapists. However, more clinically useful FIT measures are needed in our field. In response, we conceptualize core dimensions of the therapeutic change process and propose a measure-the Change Process Questionnaire (CPQ)-based on some of those dimensions to provide a clinically useful FIT measure. Developed as a 25-item measure, this study evaluated the measure's psychometric properties, resulting in a refined version with 18 items organized into four subscales (client relationships, client well-being, therapist regard, and therapeutic effect) that demonstrate some alignment with core dimensions of the change process. In this article, we provide a preliminary overview of the CPQ's psychometric validity and potential to contribute to the therapeutic change process and its accompanying scholarly literature.

Chapman's claim that the key to marital happiness is "speaking" your partner's primary "love language" has been highly influential in pop culture and incorporated into therapeutic practice. However, the theory has not yet been empirically validated. The current study tests his theory, examining the hypothesis that satisfaction with one's partner's primary love language behavior predicts relationship satisfaction better than satisfaction with one's partner's nonprimary love language behavior. We recruited a sample (n = 696, M = 43.8 years, 70% married, 97.3% cohabitating) through Amazon CloudResearch. Chapman's hypothesis was not supported. Participants' satisfaction with their partners' primary love language behavior no better-predicted relationship satisfaction or perceived love than the lower-ranked love languages. Words of Affirmation and Quality Time better predicted perceived love and relationship satisfaction than participants' primary love language. These results replicate previous research and suggest that these should remain targets of intervention for relationship therapists.

Telehealth is a promising means for expanding access to mental health treatment. Yet, more research is needed to ensure that telehealth service delivery is no less effective than in-person treatment in real-world service delivery contexts. In the current study, we compared telehealth delivery of the GenerationPMTO parenting intervention to in-person delivery in the context of the public mental health system. Using a noninferiority approach with a sample of n = 1452 caregivers, we found telehealth delivery to be noninferior to in-person delivery on all caregiver outcomes: parenting practices, parenting confidence, and caregiver depressive symptoms. We were unable to conclude that telehealth delivery was noninferior to in-person delivery for child behavior problems. Our findings add to the literature suggesting the utility of using telehealth to provide services to families-particularly for delivering evidence-based parenting interventions to enhance caregiver outcomes. Implications for couple and family therapy are discussed.

Despite collective conversations about the need for more racial diversity, the field of couple/marriage and family therapy (C/MFT) continues to be occupied predominantly by White individuals. Within the C/MFT literature, several scholar-practitioners have highlighted what the lack of racial representation means for our profession and, more importantly, our clients. C/MFT scholars have also shed light on the distinctive experiences of racially minoritized students and therapists traversing a racially homogeneous discipline. However, a smaller, and often overlooked, demographic in these conversations is supervisors of color. This modified Delphi study enlisted the expert perspectives of eight supervisors of color who each have at least a decade of supervisory experience. Consensus among the panelists emphasized the unique, but often inadequate training needs for supervisors of color and the sociocultural factors that often affect the supervisory relationship. This study provides implications that are critical to fostering the professional development of systemic supervisors of color.

Intergenerational family conflict is a commonly identified issue in the Asian diaspora; however, there are limited interventions designed to address this concern. Given this gap in the literature, the authors present a practice article outlining the conceptualization, development, and delivery of a dyadic life review intervention called (Re)Cultivating Family Stories (RFS). RFS is a clinician-facilitated family intervention designed to promote connection and foster successive communication through the joint activity of developing a family story. Life review is a structured approach for reminiscing and evaluating one's life experiences and includes dyadic variants. RFS builds on dyadic life review by facilitating collaborative dialogs between a parent and adult offspring, incorporating culturally responsive elements, and focusing on developing family stories. This article provides an overview of the intervention and its theoretical foundations, along with formative feedback from a field test. Considerations for future implementation and research directions are described.

Latine couples, particularly those who are low-income and immigrant, often face significant challenges in relationship and financial functioning, areas in which they are frequently underserved by existing programs. This article aimed to test Juntos en Pareja (JEP), a linguistic and cultural adaptation of the TOGETHER program for Latine couples. JEP is a 20-h, evidence-based psychoeducational curriculum integrating relationship and financial education. This study assessed its acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, and preliminary effectiveness. Self-report data from 23 Latine low-income, immigrant, heterosexual, Spanish-speaking couples in the Washington, D.C., area were collected in 2019-2020 before (T1) and after program participation (T2) and at 3-month follow-up (T3). Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVAs) were used to analyze changes across time in relationship and financial functioning using self-report instruments and observable data from three 8-min discussions. Results indicate that the JEP program is successful in reducing Latine partners' financial stress and emotional dysregulation and improving their financial management abilities, relationship satisfaction, and dyadic coping, but with some important gender differences. JEP is a beneficial program for Latine couples, improving relationship and financial functioning and ultimately fostering greater equity and stability in areas where this population is often underserved.

Systemic theories addressing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in couples postulate associations between primary trauma survivor functioning, secondary trauma survivor functioning, and couple functioning. However, there is a lack of examination of the association between secondary trauma survivor functioning and couple functioning, which has clinical implications. Objectives of this study include informing clinicians of the evidence base for these associations and providing a synthesized review of research on PTSD in couples to inform future research. A systematic research synthesis screening 150 articles from three databases resulted in the inclusion of 15 quantitative articles to examine the quality of the available research addressing the association between secondary trauma survivor functioning and couple functioning. Correlation matrices in all studies and other partial evidence supported the current theory positing the relevance of secondary traumatic stress in interpersonal functioning for couples. Discussion includes the need for increased quality and diversity of systemic trauma research and treatment for couples.

This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of parent-child dyads to understand the occurrence of parentification in Chinese families affected by parental depression. Utilizing purposive sampling, families were recruited from community mental health services in Hong Kong, focusing on parents with major depressive disorder and their adolescent children. Data were collected from 14 families through in-depth, semistructured interviews with adolescents (n = 8) and parents (n = 12), as well as dyadic interviews (n = 8), and analyzed utilizing thematic analysis. The central theme, "Complementary Dynamic Interaction: Rippled Relationship," captures the mutual, circular, and reciprocal interactions within parent-adolescent dyads in the context of parental depression. These findings highlight the unique dynamics of parentification in Chinese families affected by parental depression.

This article explores couples' perceptions and expectations of closeness in a clinical setting, and how relationship perceptions and expectations are associated with treatment outcomes. Bowen's theory of differentiation suggests that healthy relationships require a balance of autonomy and connection. However, some research suggests that contemporary societal expectations are pushing couples to expect greater degrees of closeness and less autonomy. Utilizing a clinical sample of 185 couples from an on-campus Couple and Family Therapy training clinic, this article explores couples' perceptions and expectations of relationship closeness utilizing graphics of overlapping circles. Latent profile analysis was conducted to identify three different profile groups based on perceptions and expectations. Wald tests for significant mean differences among the profiles were performed. Results identified significant differences between the three groups for satisfaction and separateness and connectedness variables, number of sessions and termination.

This study aimed to investigate the comparative effectiveness of enhanced cognitive-behavioral couple therapy (ECBCT) on emotional self-regulation and couple burnout in incompatible couples. The study hypothesizes that ECBCT is efficacious in emotional self-regulation and marital burnout of incompatible Iranian couples (self-assigned and court-referred) visiting counseling centers. Twenty-eight Iranian couples were divided into four groups (two self-assigned and court-referred experimental groups and two self-assigned and court-referred control groups) who were selected using the available sampling. The experimental groups were subjected to ECBCT, while the control groups received no therapy. Over time, there was an improvement in emotional self-regulation and marital burnout in experimental groups compared with control groups. This intervention was more efficacious for the self-assigned couples of the experimental group according to the Eta coefficient, which was 71 for emotional self-regulation and 66 for marital burnout. ECBCT helps couples improve their emotional self-regulation and couple burnout.

Alliance ruptures and their repair are robustly associated with outcomes in individual therapy. Little is known about these processes in couple therapy, despite the acknowledged challenges of nurturing the alliance when working with two parties in conflict. One factor contributing to this gap in the literature is the lack of an instrument to capture ruptures and repair in couple therapy. We adapted the Rupture Resolution Rating System (3RS) to identify ruptures and repairs in couple therapy at the within-system (between the two partners) and the between-system (between each partner and the therapist) levels. Sessions from one couple with good outcome and one couple with poor outcome were coded. Couples were in therapy to deal with emotional injury. Rupture-repair events in both the within-system and between-system were common. The couple with the poor outcome showed greater levels of rupture with the therapist. The injured partners (vs. injurer partners) demonstrated higher frequencies of ruptures.

This study investigates the effectiveness of the 12-h Gottman Seven Principles couple enhancement program delivered in person and online. In Norway, we recruited 490 participants and 242 people for a control group. All were in close relationships. The revised dyadic adjustment scale (RDAS) was used to assess the quality of their relationships before and after program participation, and at 6-month follow-up. Repeated measures ANOVA, t tests, reliable change, and multilevel multiple regression using propensity score matching to control for confounders were used to investigate the effectiveness of the course. The results demonstrate that the Gottman Seven Principles course improves couple relationships and is equally effective whether delivered in person or online. Furthermore, it does not matter whether there are therapists with a clinical background delivering the course, suggesting that the material itself is sufficient.

Guided by the Person-of-the Therapist Training (POTT) Model, the current qualitative study explores emotional experiences and emotion regulation strategies of emotionally focused trained therapists who work with high-conflict couples in Turkey. Twenty-one therapists who completed at least the externship in emotionally focused couple therapy (EFCT) and had prior or current clinical experience working with high-conflict couple(s) were recruited through various social media platforms and professional organizations' listservs. Semistructured individual interviews were conducted, audio-recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data revealed five main themes: (1) Different Compelling Emotional Experiences of the Therapists, (2) Sun After Storm, (3) Triggers of Therapists' Emotions, (4) Perceived Adaptive Emotion Regulation Strategies, and (5) Positive Impact of the Therapist's Regulation Strategies on the Therapy Process. Overall, the findings supported the three phases of the POTT model: namely, knowledge of self, access to self, and use of self. Our study demonstrates the need for integrating self-of-the-therapist work into the clinical practice, training, and supervision of therapists working with distressed couples.

A common pattern in couple relationships is demand/withdraw. Within this pattern, one partner seeks connection, change, and resolution of the issue, whereas the other seeks to end the discussion and limit closeness. We sought to further understand and update the literature by examining the relationship of gender and attachment (both self-report and narrative discourse) with demand/withdraw behaviors during moderate couple conflict. Using data from 63 cisgender, heterosexual couples, we used the actor-partner interdependence model within multilevel modeling, to explore the research questions. Findings revealed that during the woman's issue, men were more likely to withdraw. During the man's issue, preoccupied attachment in either partner was associated with more demand and women higher in attachment anxiety were more likely to demand. Demand behaviors in one partner were also associated with withdraw behaviors in the other (and vice versa). In this article, we discuss the research and clinical implications of these findings.

The current study relied on community-based participatory action research and qualitative methodology to explore the necessary skills and knowledge psychotherapists need to work effectively with foster youth and their families. In this study, the research team conducted interviews and focus groups with stakeholders (n = 48) in child welfare to learn how to support therapeutic relationships with foster youth clients. Using qualitative content analysis, the research team identified eight categories for needed knowledge and/or skills, such as collaboration with and inclusion of others in a client's system; flexibility and open-mindedness to individualize care follow the client's lead; and a solid understanding of trauma and attachment supported by therapist training and regular consultation specifically around foster care. These findings offer tangible suggestions for skills that psychotherapists can learn and practice in order to support beneficial mental health services for foster youth.

Levels of motivation and help-seeking impact the effectiveness of couple relationship education (CRE), as those with greater help-seeking and motivation are more likely to attend more sessions and remain engaged. Less is known about what impacts the association between motivation and help-seeking between partners in a couple engaging in CRE. The current study aims to examine (a) the effect of couples' self-stigma for help-seeking on their own or partner's motivation to complete the relationship education program and (b) whether the effects differ between service modality (i.e., online and in-person). We sampled 276 heterosexual couples who participated in a relationship education program. A multiple-group actor-partner interdependence model analysis revealed that women and men with higher self-stigma for seeking help exhibited lower motivation to complete the program in both settings. Higher self-stigma in men for help-seeking significantly enhanced the motivation of their female partners to complete the online relationship education program.

In therapy, the child is mainly seen as a problem to be labeled or as a victim of various forms of abuse. The idea of the child as a therapeutic resource is the central point of my article where children's symptoms are quickly reframed and get a relational meaning in the family. Once the relational competence of the child is appreciated and his voice is heard, the child becomes a special guide to explore the emotional world of his family, and the genogram can provide a wonderful platform to start this therapeutic journey. Using a multigenerational lens, I describe how to explore family development with a "bottom-up approach." Intergenerational questions can be asked to the child and with his help relevant family events can emerge and broken bonds repaired. The therapeutic results I expect are the resolution of children's problems and family transformation.

Foster youth reportedly have a significant need for mental health services and the quality of the therapeutic relationship can influence service engagement. We employed grounded theory methods to conduct interviews and focus groups with 48 key stakeholders in child welfare to deepen our theoretical understanding of therapeutic relationships with foster youth. The central theory that emerged was that a successful therapeutic relationship is an essential ingredient of the healing process for current and former foster youth. Participants identified hindrances to a successful therapeutic relationship, such as when therapist mishandles countertransference or inappropriately uses self-disclosure, as well as what therapists can do to build a successful therapeutic relationship, such as when a therapist fosters a secure attachment and promotes client agency. The findings offer insight into some of the important facets of building and maintaining a trusting and successful therapeutic relationship with current and former foster youth.

Although there is literature documenting the reasons for and outcomes of divorce, there is limited research about the divorce decision-making process. Researchers with the National Divorce Decision-Making Project interviewed (n = 30) people in the process of making a divorce decision. One year later they conducted a second interview (n = 22) with the same sample to track any changes in participants' divorce ideation. The current study reports on the results of a thematic analysis of participants' responses to the final question, "How did the initial interview impact your thinking about the future of your marriage?" Three salient themes emerged from the data: (1) talking got me thinking, (2) thinking got me acting, and (3) the conversation was (surprisingly) therapeutic. The authors highlight possible clinical implications and directions for future research.

This longitudinal study explored the impact of COVID-19 on individuals in romantic relationships. The sample spans three waves: first confinement (n = 52), deconfinement (n = 49), and second confinement (n = 26). The study tested sociodemographic factors, psychological adjustment (anxiety, depression, stress, well-being), COVID-19 threat perception, dyadic coping, and relationship quality. Results from repeated measures ANOVA and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) models revealed a decline in anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms, coupled with improved relationship quality over time. Well-being and dyadic coping remained stable, while COVID-19 threat perception increased. QCA models emphasized the predictive power of initial mental states (anxiety, depression, stress, and well-being at W1) on subsequent adjustment. Notably, shorter relationship duration, healthcare worker status, and not having children, when combined with prior mental states, explained increased symptoms and diminished well-being. The study underscores the significance of addressing these factors in individuals navigating romantic relationships during the pandemic.

Some couples report that their relationship satisfaction increases through the experience of infertility. Few studies exist which explain how this phenomenon occurs through specific variables. We hypothesized that John Gottman's constructs of friendship and intimacy as well as shared meaning could explain how couples can achieve increased relationship satisfaction. We examined a regression analysis of cross-sectional retrospective individual data for couples who are either experiencing infertility currently or have done so in the recent past. In our nonclinical sample (n = 903), mediation analyses indicated significant influencing pathways for the Gottman shared meaning system, indicating that this construct may explain how couples achieve greater emotional bonding and couple satisfaction through infertility. These findings provide couple therapists with potential areas of focus for couples navigating infertility through the lens of Gottman Method Couple Therapy, including ways to encourage deeper mutual shared meaning amidst the infertility experience.

Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) posits that couple distress can, in part, be attributed to four factors labeled with the acronym DEEP: natural Uifferences between partners in their perspectives, beliefs, interests, and personalities, partner's Emotional sensitivities related to these differences, the External, contextual stressors that often exacerbate their differences and sensitivities, and the resultant Patterns of distressed interaction. Although an extensive assessment process captures these four components and thus tailors targets for intervention based on the unique characteristics of each couple, it does not explicitly consider the uniqueness of African American couples. Given the historical and contemporary realities that African American couples face (e.g., anti-Black racism), the purpose of this article is to help clinicians use IBCT with African American couples in a culturally responsive way. We begin this article by highlighting the unique needs of African American couples. We then provide a broad overview of the benefits of adopting a multicultural lens of awareness, knowledge, and skills in clinical work, present an atheoretical overview of IBCT, and offer specific recommendations to attend to the unique cultural experiences of African American couples. Finally, we present a case study to exemplify our suggestions and highlight implications of using IBCT with African American couples in a culturally responsible way.