Abstract Researching participants’ experiences through a qualitative, multiperspective design presents distinct ethical challenges, particularly when including both partners and their therapist during ongoing couple therapy where violence is a central concern. Situated within a publicly funded therapeutic context, this study examines these challenges through interviews with eight clients and five therapists, which were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Four key themes emerged: (1) When Understanding Accumulates: Confidentiality and Safety as Emerging Ethical Tensions , (2) Motivation , Recruitment , and Power in Interconnected Relationships , (3) Consent in Motion: An Iterative and Ongoing Process , and (4) Research Ripples: Reflexive Spillovers into Ongoing Therapy? The findings indicate that ethical dilemmas often emerge as situated “branching points”, decision-making junctures in which relational and systemic interconnections continually reshape participants’ vulnerability and researchers’ responsibilities. These branching points cannot be adequately addressed and managed through procedural safeguards alone. To navigate such dilemmas, the study describes a triadic process involving: (1) cultivating ethical sensitivity and attentiveness to emerging branching points ; (2) interpreting these situations through reflection and dialogue to form provisional ethical impressions ; and (3) mobilizing resources to respond with context-aware action. Overall, the study highlights that ethical research in sensitive, multiperspective contexts involves ongoing ethical judgment rather than the identification of a single “right” course of action. Ethical research practice is shown to require sustained reflexivity, responsiveness, and care as research unfolds alongside complex relational and systemic processes.

Family roles in trauma recovery are increasingly recognised, yet systemic approaches remain underdeveloped because of limited models and engagement barriers. Single Session Thinking (SST) offers potential for trauma-related family work. This study identified how specialist family therapists were applying the SST approach when working with families affected by a traumatic event/s, and suggests corresponding adaptations to the existing SST session map. Sixteen specialist family therapists experienced in SST and trauma treatment completed a three-round Delphi study, producing practice guidelines and an adapted SST session map tailored to these families. Consensus was established on the foundation of family trauma treatment utilising an SST approach. Practice guidelines and adaptations to the SST session map emphasised containment, collaboration, and trauma-sensitive systemic practice. The adapted SST framework supports attuned, collaborative family engagement in high-demand, brief-intervention settings. Future research should incorporate family perspectives to further validate and refine the model alongside other trauma recovery approaches.

Abstract This paper explores how family secrets, silences, and disclosures encountered during childhood serve as pivotal elements in understanding complex family dynamics, as revealed through a qualitative study involving seven adult participants. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, in-depth interviews were conducted to examine the participants’ experiences of secrecy within their families. The findings suggest that family secrets, rather than being isolated occurrences, function as ‘entry points’ into more intricate and often hidden family dynamics and underlying issues. These secrets unveil deeper layers of family relationships and communication patterns, providing a portal into unresolved conflicts and unspoken tensions. Participants’ narratives disclosed a broad spectrum of themes, including parental depression, life-threatening illness, paternity uncertainty, financial struggles, infidelity, violence, abuse, and inheritance disputes. The enduring impact of these secrets on the participants’ development, maturation, and relational functioning stresses the importance of addressing such dynamics in systemic therapeutic interventions.

Abstract Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health and clinical concern. Research indicates that IPV occurs more frequently among couples seeking therapy than in the general population. However, it is often not disclosed at the time of referral and instead emerges gradually through the therapeutic process. This qualitative study examines the process by which IPV becomes the main focus of conjoint therapy in cases where it was not initially disclosed. Using a multiperspective Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), we conducted and analyzed separate interviews with 13 participants, four heterosexual couples and their therapists, who were engaged in ongoing therapy at the Norwegian Family Counselling Service at the time of the interviews. The analysis resulted in two main group experiential themes that illuminate a dual-journey process towards violence-focused couple therapy comprising two interrelated phases: the Pre-Therapy Journey , which includes the sub-themes: (1) Women’s Agency in Initiating Change , (2) Children as Catalysts for Change , (3) Critical Threshold: Reaching “Enough is Enough” , and (4) The History and Impact of Unsuccessful Help-Seeking Attempts ; and the In-Therapy Journey , which encompasses the sub-themes: (5) Is It Violence? Internal and Relational Negotiations and (6) Beyond “Repair”? Relational and Therapeutic Consequences of Long-term Patterns of IPV . Together, these six sub-themes constitute a dynamic and temporally layered understanding of how IPV becomes the primary focus of couple therapy. The discussion introduces the Dual Journey Model, providing a conceptual framework and practical guidance for enhancing clinical and organizational capacity to develop IPV-sensitive and safer couple therapy interventions.

Abstract Emotions in relationships help individuals navigate complex social and emotional contexts and shape individual and relational well-being. An important aspect of therapy is helping clients navigate potentially strong emotions in themselves and others to foster healing and connection. Although a sizeable scholarly literature exists regarding emotions and their experiencing, processing, and regulation, more is needed to understand experiencing more generally within the concept of therapy in terms of their inner awareness and how they see themselves. This is especially true when considering that there may be optimal levels of experiencing that help facilitate positive change. Using data from 63 heterosexual couples, this study examined the intersection between experiencing and other indicators of experience (moment-to-moment feelings towards partner and skin conductance) during a therapy-like interaction. Findings revealed that men experiencing greater emotional engagement exhibited significant psychophysiological arousal changes. In addition, women with higher experiencing modes during discussions of their partner’s issues reported more positive moment-to-moment feelings and higher couple satisfaction. We discuss the potential implications of thesis findings, especially those for therapists.