Facilitating Withdrawer Re-Engagement in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy: A Modified Task Analysis

A modified, discovery-oriented task analysis was conducted to delineate what therapist interventions and client emotional processes are involved in successful withdrawer re-engagement in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT). EFT is an empirically validated approach to treating couples. Withdrawe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Couple and family psychology 2017-09, Vol.6 (3), p.205-225
Main Authors: Lee, Nicholas A, Spengler, Paul M, Mitchell, Amy M, Spengler, Elliot S, Spiker, Douglas A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Couples Therapy
Emotion Focused Therapy
Female
Human
Male
Psychological Engagement
Withdrawal (Defense Mechanism)
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Summary:A modified, discovery-oriented task analysis was conducted to delineate what therapist interventions and client emotional processes are involved in successful withdrawer re-engagement in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT). EFT is an empirically validated approach to treating couples. Withdrawer re-engagement is seen as a key element of the change process in EFT, yet limited research is available as to how the process is facilitated in session. Seven videotaped samples of successful withdrawer re-engagement were critically examined using task analytic methods. Therapist interventions and client emotional processes were assessed using the Emotion-Focused Therapy Coding Scheme and the Experiencing Scale. Implications for future research, clinical practice, and training are discussed.
ISSN:2160-4096
2160-410X
DOI:10.1037/cfp0000084