Couple Therapy Research Articles

A Girlfriend Gaze on Romantic Feelings: Coconstructing Postfeminist Selfhood on Douban

This article discusses how postfeminism plays into the exchange of romantic relationship advice between young women on the Chinese social media platform Douban. Employing Fairclough’s approach to critical discourse analysis, we elucidate how the process of giving and receiving romantic relationship advice facilitates the construction of a normative, postfeminist selfhood specific to China’s post-socialist transition. Under postfeminist aspirations for independence, self-empowerment, and personal success, this selfhood is constructed in social-mediated communication to offer an instrumentalist assessment of romantic relationships. In doing so, young Chinese women repudiate each other’s lovesickness, pathologizing romantic desires to achieve a false sense of emotional stability and mental strength. This gives rise to a girlfriend gaze on women’s emotional changes, establishing a self-/peer surveillance mechanism that regulates how members of the Douban community engage each other on the platform. While masked with a veneer of female empowerment and sisterly help, this mode of self-/peer surveillance not only perpetuates the stereotypical association of women with emotionality and irrationality but also marginalizes public discussions on structural gender inequalities, undermining collective efforts to challenge the patriarchal status quo. The research findings shed light on the functioning of neoliberal governance in contemporary China in the context of social-mediated communication.

Intimate Partner Violence and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women in the Conflicted Northeast Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Intimate partner violence (IPV), perpetrated by male partners, inflicts physical, sexual, or psychological harm on women. During pregnancy, it becomes a significant public health concern and human rights violation, especially in conflict-affected areas, affecting both mother and fetus negatively. Research in Ethiopia often overlooks nonusers of antenatal services, primarily conducted in health facilities. This study addresses this gap, aiming to provide valuable insights into community dynamics. Hence, this study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with IPV during pregnancy in the conflict-affected district of Northeast Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study surveyed 603 postpartum women in the Argoba district, Amhara region Northeast Ethiopia, from March 26 to April 25, 2023, utilizing a multistage sampling technique. Data collection employed a structured questionnaire, coded, and entered into Epi-data 4.6, then analyzed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive and Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. Adjusted odds ratios were computed at a 95% confidence interval [CI], with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Model fit and multicollinearity were assessed for validity. The study found an overall prevalence of 45.1% (95% CI: 41.1-49.1) for IPV during pregnancy, with psychological violence being the most prevalent (38.0%), followed by physical (24.7%) and sexual violence (18.6%). Factors significantly associated with IPV included unwanted pregnancy (AOR = 1.94; 95% CI: 1.10-3.47), women's acceptance of violence (AOR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.64-3.48), having a partner who chews khat (AOR = 1.99; 95% CI: 1.31-3.03), and spouse's engagement in multiple sexual partners (AOR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.03-2.58). The study's findings indicate a higher prevalence compared to others, with key factors including unwanted pregnancy, acceptance of violence, khat chewing, and multiple sexual partners. Recommendations include comprehensive sex education, awareness campaigns, relationship counseling, community engagement, improved healthcare access, stronger legal frameworks, and empowerment programs.

Happiness Therapy and Emotion Regulation for Early Married Couples Facing Emotional Abuse in the Marelan Area

ABSTRACT Conflicts were Indonesia's most common causes of divorce in 2023, accounting for 251,828 instances, or 61.67% of total divorce cases. Emotional abuse is a significant problem that can affect any relationship, even young married. A research analysis discovered that counseling and therapies were beneficial in mitigating the detrimental impacts of emotional abuse. The aim of the study is happiness therapy and emotion regulation for early marriage couples. This study was a pre-experimental approach. The study's statistical population consisted of 8 couples selected as a sample by purposive and voluntary sampling. Then, the happiness therapy and emotional regulation therapy protocol by Seligman. The researcher implemented the therapy in three sessions of 60-90 minutes, Then, the approaches were performed in pairs for happiness therapy and emotional regulation therapy for each couple with a month follow-up. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews. The study's findings suggest that, on a qualitative level, the informants' pre-therapy emotions were melancholy because of the emotionally abusive home environments they frequently experienced. Several informants felt disheartened and helpless to change their circumstances. Behavioral improvements were noted concerning happiness and emotional regulation. These included modifications to behaviors related to relying on calmness, communicating happiness without expressing emotion, and viewing happiness as a marriage obligation. This study can conclude that as couples learn to navigate their relationship dynamics with empathy and understanding, create a resilient partnership capable of weathering challenges without resorting to harmful behaviors. By prioritizing happiness therapy principles, couples can cultivate a harmonious union characterized by mutual respect and love.

Couples therapy and the challenges of building trust, fairness, and justice.

The cornerstone of the contextual family therapy model is predicated on the belief that all family members benefit from trustworthy relationships, which result from (a) acknowledging the contributions of deserving family members, (b) engaging in responsible interactions, and (c) ensuring a fair distribution of relational burdens and benefits. Nonetheless, conflicts may arise when one partner asserts a claim to relational resources based on need, while the other believes they are entitled to such resources based on merit. Based on relational ethics and the development of trust, this paper focuses on the therapist's role in facilitating the conflict-resolution process to assist couples in reestablishing individual responsibility and accountability within the systemic framework of couple therapy. It elucidates several clinical strategies, including (a) cultivating trust through fairness and focusing on the importance of reciprocity and equitable give-and-take, (b) detecting destructive entitlement, and (c) marital relationships and ethics of care. Several clinical examples are discussed, as well as common couple relational issues associated with horizontal and vertical relationships, partnership, and fusion, and the impact of gender and power dynamics and trustworthiness based on the feminist lens.

The Role of Attachment Styles in Marital Stability: A Psychological Approach to Strengthening Relationships

Purpose: The present study attempts to establish how attaching styles influence marital stability. To help determine how the various attachment patterns or styles-secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized-influence communication quality, conflict resolution, and overall marital satisfaction. Provide an understanding of how attachment styles, which are developed during one's childhood years, impinge on adult-to-adult relationships, particularly in marriage. Understand the rise in divorce rates and marital problems based on exploration of attachment styles that strengthen or weaken the marital bond. Add to the increasing scientific knowledge repository by focusing on real-life marital outcomes related to psychological theories of attachment. Material and Methods: The research design for this study is a mixed-methods design, which includes the following; Quantitative Component: Standardized questionnaires related to attachment style and relationship satisfaction scales will be administered to 200 couples. Qualitative Component: 20 couples from each category of different attachment styles will be interviewed in depth. This will be done at the marriage counseling centers in Houston, Texas. Population: Married individuals from different age brackets and years of marriage. Sampling: Stratified random sampling to ensure that there is a fair representation of marital backgrounds. Statistical Analysis: Application of correlation and regression analysis will help identify if attachment styles significantly predict marital outcomes. Findings: The key results of the study are that secure Attachment: Couples with at least one partner showing a secure attachment style exhibit: Improved communication, Successful conflict resolution, Overall relationship satisfaction, Insecure Attachment Styles, Anxious and avoidant are attached to less satisfaction and more conflict in marriage. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Based on this research, our recommendations in the present study are as follows: The need for Attachment-Based Interventions and Relationship Education Programs.

Analisis Dampak Pernyataan Kementrian Agama yang menjadikan KUA sebagai Tempat Pernikahan semua Agama

Statement from the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) regarding the Office of Religious Affairs (KUA) as a place for marriages of all religions is an issue widely discussed by scholars and religious leaders. KUA is a government institution responsible for carrying out some of the tasks related to Islamic religious affairs in Indonesia. However, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has prepared KUA to become a place for marriages of all religions, with regulations, infrastructure, human resources, and cross-religious marriage counseling programs in place. There are legal regulatory obstacles in implementing Kemenag's proposal, but efforts are underway to prepare infrastructure and programs to maximize supervision of marriage registration, especially for non-Muslims. KUA not only plays a role in conducting marriages for Muslims, but cross-religious marriage counseling programs have also been practiced in several KUAs, such as in Kintamani, Bangli, Bali, and Bangka Belitung. The purpose of this research is to analyze the issues surrounding KUA becoming a place for marriages of all religions. The research method used is qualitative research accompanied by field research at the Office of Religious Affairs in the city of Semarang . The results of this research include the discrepancies between the issues created by some news on television or social media not aligning with the regulatory planning as intended. KUA will only be used as a place for registering marriages of all religions; beyond that, various perspectives emerge from the community, community leaders, and KUA officials who oppose the policy if it were to be fully realized.

The Effectiveness of Emotion-Oriented Couple Therapy Training on Decision-Making Styles and Relationship Derangement of Facing Divorce Women

The Effectiveness of Emotion-Oriented Couple Therapy Training on Decision-Making Styles and Relationship Derangement of Facing Divorce Women

The relational heart of Couples Therapy: In conversation with Dr Orna Guralnik

This article is based on the author’s conversation in December 2023 with Orna Guralnik about the television series Couples Therapy, based on the filming of couples in sessions with her. They discussed the programme and its production, and also its link to her academic work, which presents a psychosocial approach to clinical practice. Their conversation covered three broad areas: Couples Therapy and therapeutic culture, Couples Therapy and the radically altered psychoanalytic frame, and finally Couples Therapy and sociopolitical culture. They explored the way in which the television series aims to help couples and the public to understand more of themselves in their relationships, and offers a glimpse of what couple psychotherapy can offer to families and couples who need help. Bringing in Guralnik’s academic work also highlighted the importance of opening up space for a conversation in the profession about different approaches to couple psychotherapy which respect difference and maintain curiosity. This article presents extracts from their wide-ranging conversation which interlink reflections on the television series, contemporary culture, and psychosocial approaches to clinical practice.

The Role of Tafarkin Tsira Islamic Center Azare on Community Service Delivery: A Focus on Marriage Counseling

This article examines the TafarkinTsira Islamic Center Azare's extensive marriage counseling programs, which are based on Islamic principles and specially designed to cater to the various requirements of the neighborhood's Muslim population. Pre-marital, post-marital, and conflict resolution counseling are all provided by the center, with an emphasis on teaching couples about their rights and responsibilities, encouraging open communication, and mediating disputes between spouses. Through the use of content analysis, interviews, and a review of prior reports, the activity employs a qualitative methodology to demonstrate how these services have improved community well-being overall, decreased divorce rates, and contributed significantly to marital stability. The activity findings revealed that TafarkinTsira Islamic Center promotes solid and healthy marriages through its counseling programs, which are the cornerstone of stable families and a cohesive community. These services have an effect on more than just a couple; they also help the larger community by fostering social peace, financial stability, and mental health. The importance of religious organizations like TafarkinTsira in tackling social issues and assisting the community by providing faith-based counsel is highly recommended.

Decoding love signs: The role of perceived relational red flags in mate selection criteria among Filipino young adults

Abuse and infidelity are common relational conflicts in the Philippines. The prevalence of this growing social problem among Filipinos has also been observed in their calls regarding these warning signs in a romantic partner. Hence, this study explores how these issues influence young adults’ mate preferences by examining their lived romantic experiences. Utilizing criterion purposive sampling, ten diverse stories of heterosexuals were evaluated through semi-structured in-depth interviews and interpretative phenomenological analysis to understand the complexity of experiential meanings of participants who have had long-term relationships with their previous ex-lovers and are currently engaged in committed relationships. Participants denoted relational red flags encompassing emotional distance, deception, emotional labor, destruction, and emotional manipulation. These turbulent behavioral patterns deliberately cause the deterioration of their previous relationship while they consider the dimensions of warmth, competence, and attractiveness when choosing an ideal mate. These preferences mentioned are similar to the desirable qualities of their current partners. Findings also assert that relational red flags were perceived as the diametric bases for mate selection, non-negotiable deal breakers, and a lesson to captivate dealmakers. Considering the rising numbers of reported domestic violence victims, including psychological abuse in relationships, this research has compelling implications for Gender and Development and Anti-Violence Against Women. Further, it is also pertinent to counseling psychology practices, especially in the current status and emerging development of Couples Therapy, which primarily handles relationship issues during the pre-marital stage.

Reexamining the Bonds Between Us: Interview With Nhat Nguyen From the IAMFC Conference in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

In the Summer of 2023, the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors launched their first conference in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The conference theme was “Reexamining the Bonds Between Us.” The authors had the opportunity to interview Dr. Nguyen who was presenting. During the interview, Dr. Nguyen shares his expertise on the history of Vietnam, stigmas of mental health, implications for people diagnosed with a mental health disorder, common presenting problems for individuals, couples, and families, and best practices for working with clients in Vietnam.

Transdiagnostic Emotion-Focused Therapy for Couples with Co-Morbid Relational and Mood, Anxiety and Related Difficulties

AbstractThere is a clear association between relational dissatisfaction in romantic relationships and elevated mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. The association can run in both directions and adds complexity to both relationship and individual difficulties. One of the most studied relationship therapy approaches, emotion-focused therapy (EFT) for couples, focuses on the interactional cycle between partners and also stresses the importance of soothing individual vulnerabilities in order to transform troublesome relational interactions. Thus far, there has not been an attempt to describe a systematic framework for using EFT to work with couples with co-morbid mental health issues. This paper aims to address this gap. It builds upon both recent work in transdiagnostic EFT for individuals, and the EFT for couples framework as optimal scaffolding for a transdiagnostic EFT approach that targets relational issues as well as depression- and anxiety-related presentations in couples. The paper outlines several ways how individual’s chronic emotional vulnerability has the potential to rise to clinical levels of distress and complicate a romantic relationship. The paper then outlines specific therapeutic strategies how to work with individual’s emotional vulnerability and symptom distress it may bring, in the context of the couple relationship. The individual’s emotional vulnerability work is tracked along with relational interactions, in an effort to provide healing and transformational interactions and emotional experiences. A case example from a current research project is outlined to illustrate the use of specific therapeutic strategies and the clinical application of the transdiagnostic EFT approach to couple therapy.

Is Being Single Ok? Analysis of College Students' Conditions of Being Single from a Gender Perspective

&lt;p&gt;基於發展階段的任務與社會文化期待，大學生面對高唱「脫單」、「脫魯」的氛圍，往往面臨是否進入戀愛關係的壓力。本研究從性別觀點探討單身大學生面對單身的認知、態度、情緒及其性別差異，以及人際互動與社會文化因素如何影響個人心理的性別差異。本研究採主位觀點自編問卷，進行網路調查，參與者為1,157位單身大學生。單身過去被視為失敗的象徵，本研究顯示，現今大學生對於單身的想法已較為多元，因素分析及多元迴歸的結果顯示，除了單身焦慮情緒及歸咎於己外，還出現享受單身的因素，且存在性別差異。平行中介分析結果顯示，單身男大生的單身焦慮高於單身女大生，也較容易將單身歸咎於己，這些性別差異被「受同儕影響而感到形單影隻」的人際互動因素完全中介。單身女大生較單身男大生更能享受單身，此性別差異被人際互動和社會文化因素部分中介，部分是因為單身女大生較不會受同儕影響感到形單影隻，部分是因為較未感受到社會文化的單身烙印。本研究顯示，在人際網絡與社會文化構築的壓力網下，單身女大生較能從傳統性別規範中解放出來。最後，本研究針對正向單身論述、男性情感教育、父母及同儕的影響提出建議；並討論未來採取量化和質性研究的方向，期能促進單身者的心理健康。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Romantic relationships are regarded as a milestone in college students’ developmental stage. Additionally, society and college culture demand that they leave their single status. College students visiting counseling centers commonly talk about romantic relationship problems. In response to college culture that emphasizes engagement in romantic relationships, college students are frequently troubled by the stress of being single when failing to meet this social and cultural expectation. However, research on singlehood has been neglected. This study explored college students’ emotions, attitudes, and cognitions regarding their singlehood and examined sex differences in these psychological states. The effects of interpersonal interactions and sociocultural factors on individual psychological states and sex differences were also examined. A questionnaire was developed from an emic perspective, and the items were adapted from articles posted on the Dcard forum regarding experiences of single college students. Exploratory factor analysis was applied to these items at three levels, that is, individual psychological state, interpersonal interactions, and social culture. The questionnaire was administered online to 1,157 single college students. While singlehood was marked as a symbol of failure, exploratory factor analysis revealed that college students had diverse thoughts about singlehood, ranging from enjoyment to anxiety. To understand sex differences in individual psychological states, multiple regression analyses were conducted, with anxiety about being single, enjoyment of a single life, and attribution of single status to personal traits respectively as dependent variables, and sexual orientation and grade level as covariates. We hypothesized that sex differences in individual psychological states are mediated by interpersonal interactions and sociocultural factors. The results of the parallel mediation analysis are consistent with this hypothesis. Sex differences in individual psychological states are mediated by interpersonal and sociocultural factors. The results showed that male students are more anxious about being single and more likely to attribute singlehood to personal traits than female students. By contrast, female students were more able to enjoy their single lives than male students. Specifically, controlling for sexual orientation and grade level, the sex differences in anxiety about being single and attribution of single status to personal traits were fully accounted for by the interpersonal interaction factor &amp;quot;&amp;quot;a sense of loneliness due to peer pressure.&amp;quot;&amp;quot; The sex differences in enjoyment of single life were partially accounted for by the interpersonal interaction factor &amp;quot;&amp;quot;a sense of loneliness due to peer pressure&amp;quot;&amp;quot; and sociocultural factor &amp;quot;&amp;quot;social stigma about singlehood.&amp;quot;&amp;quot; This study shows that single female college students are better able to liberate themselves from the pressure of interpersonal networks and sociocultural factors. In conclusion, single male college students are more anxious about their single status and are more likely to make internal attributions because of the pressure caused by interpersonal networks, whereas single female college students are more able to free themselves from peer pressure and social stigma, therefore, enjoying their single lives. Based on the results, we propose suggestions for positive discourse on being single, providing relationship education and counseling for male students, and analyzing the effect of parents and peers on college students’ perspectives on being single. This study explored college students’ perspectives on being single and the impact of individual, interpersonal, and societal factors. To measure the psychological state of a single person, reliable and valid inventories, such as single anxiety, need to be developed. Additionally, qualitative research may provide a deeper contextual understanding of single individuals. Further quantitative and qualitative research is needed to gain insight into the promotion of the well-being of a rising single population.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

Gottman's sound relationship house and relational resilience through infertility for couples.

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.

Teaching Equitable Couples Counseling: Using Role-Plays and Reflecting Teams in an Online Classroom

We adapted previous descriptions on couples counseling experiential learning practices to an online classroom in counselor education. Specifically, we utilized two doctoral teaching assistants in a quarter-long couple role-play scenario and incorporated reflecting and co-counseling teams. The adapted strategies included attention to sociocultural aspects that addressed working with a queer couple among other salient identities. We offer the strengths and challenges of the approach and discuss implications for marriage, couple, and family counselor educators.

Unpacking the effects of materialism on interpersonal relationships: A cognitive approach.

Materialism, or beliefs and values that link wealth and consumption to success and happiness, negatively affects interpersonal relationships. Prior work has typically explained these effects through the allocation of personal resources (such as time or money) within relationships, thus using a behavioural route. However, this research proposes an alternative cognitive pathway to understand the adverse effects of materialism on interpersonal relationships. Three studies (N = 1389) employing correlational and experimental methodologies showed that materialism leads to heightened expectations and standards for a significant other, which are associated with poorer interpersonal outcomes. Specifically, materialism heightens the ideal standards that one has for a close other around achievement (e.g., ambition) and positive image (e.g., attractiveness), which are linked to higher conflict and lower relational satisfaction. Therefore, this work contributes to deepening our understanding of how consumer-oriented values shape social perceptions and negatively affect interpersonal dynamics. Practical applications include informing relationship counselling practices, developing educational interventions, and guiding marketers and media content producers towards messages that do not increase individual's ideals and standards for themselves and others. Further research should explore other factors that might alter this mediation (e.g., mindfulness) and examine the short- and long-term effects through longitudinal and interventional-based research.

Evaluation of Varicocelectomy Operative Therapy for Infertile Couples at the UGM Academic Hospital

Background: Infertility is a condition of the male or female reproductive system characterized by failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of having regular sexual intercourse without contraception. Since 2013, Rumah Sakit Akademik UGM (RSA UGM) has providing varicocele therapy to infertile individuals. The Ivanissevich varicocelectomy procedure is used for varicocele therapy.Objective: This study intends to examine the management of varicocele patients at RSA UGM.Methods: This research is a retrospective study by opening medical records and interviews. The study population was all patients who underwent varicocelectomy surgery between 2013 and 2021. Data is presented in the form of graphs.Results: The distribution of varicocele lateralization showed that out of 35 respondents, 23 respondents (66%) had one side varicoceles and 12 respondents (34%) both sides varicoceles. The distribution based on successful pregnancy shows that out of 35 respondents, 10 respondent couples (29%) have already gotten pregnant, 25 respondents (71%) haven't gotten pregnant. The distribution of varicocele lateralization in respondents who have children shows that 70% of respondents are one side and 30% of respondents are both sides. Complications of discomfort revealed that 88% of research participants had no complaints of postoperative pain, whereas 11% occasionally suffered pain following varicocele surgery.Conclusion: Varicocele that is one side is more common. Patients with one side varicocele who have surgery are more likely to become parents than those with both sides varicocele. At RSA UGM, the varicocelectomy success rate is comparable to the worldwide success rate.Keywords: Varicocele, success rate, one side, both sides.

Persuasive Communication: Strategy by Office of Religious Affairs to Prevent Divorce

The Ministry of Religion took anticipatory steps to prevent high divorce rates through the SUSCATIN program (Prospective Bride Course). This marriage counselling program is carried out at the District Religious Affairs Office (KUA). KUA officers carry out persuasive communication to influence and change the beliefs, attitudes, and behavior of prospective brides and grooms. The marriage counselling program has been running well and smoothly. However, statistical data shows that the divorce rate in Regency is the highest in West Java. This research aims to determine the role of persuasive communication used by KUA officers in influencing the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of prospective brides and grooms. This research uses a qualitative approach with phenomenological methods. The research results show that KUA officers can carry out counselling effectively. They can set goals, are careful in conveying messages about the importance of maintaining the integrity of marriage, and can implement persuasive communication strategies. However, the efforts of KUA officers have not been optimal. This can be seen from the still high divorce rate in Regency. The limitation of this research is changes in a person's behavior to prevent divorce in the household. The original value of this research is the ability of KUA officers representing the government to deliver development programs through divorce prevention programs using persuasive communication. In the case of community outreach, officers often use one-way (linear) and command-based (top-down) communication.

A Theoretical Article: Exploring the Evolutionary Dynamics of Couples and Family Therapy

This article provides a comprehensive review of how the field of family therapy has evolved, tracing its roots from early practices influenced by eugenics to its current diverse theoretical frameworks, which are ever-expanding. In the mid-20th century, family therapy expanded beyond its eugenic roots, embracing diverse theoretical frameworks and giving rise to various therapeutic modalities like behavioral and emotionally focused family and couples therapy. However, due to cultural disparities, these concepts and models cannot holistically capture the essence of family therapy in India. They do not compute the central role of the intergenerational subsystem or understand hierarchical dynamics. What is deemed “okay” in the Western context does not hold true in the Indian context. Postmodern approaches show a marked improvement in dealing with these problems in cultural adaptations of family and couples therapy by integrating diverse therapeutic practices, technological advances, and cultural and diversity-sensitive practices. However, despite these advancements, the adapted modalities have a scope for improvement, posing a pressing need for research that bridges this gap. Moving forward research should focus on family change mechanisms, symptom improvement factors, and prioritizing culturally sensitive approaches to meet the unique needs of Indian families.

AI in Relationship Counselling: Evaluating ChatGPT’s Therapeutic Capabilities in Providing Relationship Advice

Recent advancements in AI have led to chatbots, such as ChatGPT, capable of providing therapeutic responses. Early research evaluating chatbots’ ability to provide relationship advice and single-session relationship interventions has showed that both laypeople and relationship therapists rate them high on attributed such as empathy and helpfulness. In the present study, 20 participants engaged in single-session relationship intervention with ChatGPT and were interviewed about their experiences. We evaluated the performance of ChatGPT comprising of technical outcomes such as error rate and linguistic accuracy and therapeutic quality such as empathy and therapeutic questioning. The interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis which generated four themes: light at the end of the tunnel; clearing the fog; clinical skills; and therapeutic setting. The analyses of technical and feasibility outcomes, as coded by researchers and perceived by users, show ChatGPT provides realistic single-session intervention with it consistently rated highly on attributes such as therapeutic skills, human-likeness, exploration, and useability, and providing clarity and next steps for users’ relationship problem. Limitations include a poor assessment of risk and reaching collaborative solutions with the participant. This study extends on AI acceptance theories and highlights the potential capabilities of ChatGPT in providing relationship advice and support.