Journal Of Marital Research Articles

“There Is No Such Thing as Neutrality”: An Interview with Dr. Carmen Knudson-Martin, Ph.D. on Feminism in Academia/Clinical Practice

ABSTRACT Dr. Knudson-Martin is a prolific researcher, educator, presenter, editor, and clinician in feminist family therapy, currently serving as Professor Emerita at Lewis & Clark College. Her work includes over 100 publications (books, book chapters, and refereed articles) and over 120 professional presentations (invited and refereed). Accolades include recognition as one of the most influential papers published in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy (1975–2011), the Anselm Strauss Award (with Dana Matta) for Best Family Qualitative Research (2007), and the Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice Award from American Family Therapy Academy (2017). Along with Douglas Huenergardt and a clinical research team, Dr. Knudson-Martin, founded Socio-Emotional Relationship Therapy (SERT), which focuses on the intersection of emotion, power, and sociocultural contexts in the micro-processes of couple interactions. This interview focused candidly on how Dr. Knudson-Martin’s understanding of feminism changed over the years, her views on barriers faced by feminist researchers, and the strong influence collaborative relationships in academia have had on her career. Contextualizing her evolved understanding of feminism, Dr. Knudson-Martin reflected on her past research that divided the concept of gender into three elements (power, culture, and process) and how her own privilege initially restricted her understanding of feminism. Finally, Dr. Knudson-Martin highlighted the importance of working across disciplines to broaden perspectives, bridge theoretical divides, and begin with an intersectional lens rather than secondary consideration of identity as “an add-on.”

The Strong African American Families Program: Disrupting the Negative Consequences of Racial Discrimination Through Culturally Tailored, Family-Based Prevention

Racism continues to be a major source of stress for African Americans and can impair psychological functioning. Adolescents experiencing discrimination may engage in self-soothing, but risky behaviors, which leave them at risk for negative life trajectories. Black pride has been identified as a key factor in explaining the heterogeneity in responses to discrimination. Racial socialization, strategies parents use to promote Black pride and protect youth from discrimination, is an important focus of family-based prevention programs serving African American families. This study tests the efficacy of a culturally tailored preventive intervention for rural African American families to disrupt the negative consequences of discrimination on adolescent psychological functioning. Four waves of data from the Strong African American Families (SAAF) efficacy trial (Murry & Brody in Journal of Marital & Family Therapy 30(3):271-283, 2004) with 667 African American families in rural Georgia were used for this study. Structural equation modeling was used to test study hypotheses. Adolescent experiences with discrimination at age 15 predicted concurrent psychological functioning and multiple risk behaviors at age 16, including sexual risk behavior, substance use problems, academic failure, and juvenile justice involvement. Mediation analyses demonstrated that psychological functioning was a significant mediator of these relations. The SAAF program was associated with increases in racial socialization, which in turn fostered gains in adolescent Black pride. Black pride was indirectly associated with reduced risk behavior through adolescent psychological functioning, but Black pride did not moderate the effect of discrimination on psychological functioning. This study confirms that family-based prevention can support African American adolescent mental health in the context of discrimination. However, more emphasis on reducing exposure to discrimination is needed.

Integrating a Process-Orientation into Multicultural Training for Marriage and Family Therapists: A Systematic Review and Critique

This article reviews and evaluates available research on multicultural training within the field of marriage and family therapy. Four top-tier journals in the field of marriage and family therapy (Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, American Journal of Family Therapy, Contemporary Family Therapy, and Family Process) were used to identify studies on multicultural training. A total of 15 studies met inclusion criteria for review. Following an account of existing trends within the marriage and family therapy multicultural training literature, we provide a critique of the research reviewed and make numerous recommendations for future research in this area.

Erratum

Journal of Marital and Family TherapyVolume 47, Issue 4 p. 1013-1013 ERRATUMFree Access Erratum This article corrects the following: Way of being and the therapeutic pyramid: Expanding the application of a common factors meta-model Sean D. Davis PhD, Stephen T. Fife PhD, Jason B. Whiting PhD, Kay P. Bradford PhD, Volume 47Issue 1Journal of Marital and Family Therapy pages: 69-84 First Published online: November 8, 2020 First published: 20 October 2021 https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12545AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL The article by Davis et al., (2020) was published with following error. The term “(Fife et al., The case management of family violen2014)” under the last paragraph of the section “INTRODUCTION” should be read as “(Fife et al., 2014).” REFERENCE Davis, S.D., Fife, S.T., Whiting, J.B., & Bradford, K.P. (2020). Way of being and the therapeutic pyramid: Expanding the application of a common factors meta-model. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 47(1), 69– 84. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12466 Volume47, Issue4October 2021Pages 1013-1013 ReferencesRelatedInformation

Clients' perceptions of marriage and family therapists' way-of-being: a phenomenological analysis.

Previous research highlights the influence of therapist factors on treatment outcomes. One therapist factor proposed as fundamental to the process of therapy is the therapist's way-of-being, a relational concept that refers to how the therapist regards a client-either as a person or object (Fife et al., [2014] Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 40, 20-33). Although this case has been made conceptually, there is little empirical research on therapists' way-of-being with clients. The primary purpose of this research is to investigate clients' perceptions of their therapists' way-of-being. Utilizing a common factors perspective, the study seeks to explore: (a) how clients experience their therapists' way-of-being and (b) the influence therapists' way-of-being has on clients' engagement. Phenomenological methods were used to gain a nuanced understanding of the phenomenon. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews with clients (N=10) who received individual therapy from a marriage and family therapist. Results were organized into two main themes: core tenets (attunement, congruency, and aligning with clients) and operational tenets (providing affirmation and validation, balancing flexibility and structure, and accomplishing goals). Findings are used to make a case for adding the concept of way-of-being as an overarching construct for several well-established therapist factors. Clinical and training implications are discussed.

The Experience of Learning EFT in Spanish-speaking Countries: A Multi-National Replication Study.

This study is a multi-national follow-up to the original (Sandberg and Knestel (2011) Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 37, 393-410) article on the process of learning Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT). A total of 102 clinicians from nine Spanish-speaking countries (Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, and El Salvador) participated in the study. A comparison of results across the two studies revealed more similarities than differences. However, a few notable differences emerged from responses to qualitative questions, namely a heightened sense of appreciation for and resonance with the focus on core emotion in EFT and less frequent reports of difficulty learning and adapting to the model among Spanish-speaking therapists. These differences were consistent with common cultural values and forms of expression in Latin America and Spain. Results are discussed in terms of training, supervision, and future research as well.

An Investigation of Couples’ Help-Seeking: A Multiple Case Study

Research of the effectiveness of couples counseling has demonstrated clear benefits (e.g.; Lebow et al. (Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 38(1):145–168, 2012)). However, relatively few couples initiate counseling and seek help. This exploratory study employed a qualitative multiple case study approach to heterosexual couples (N = 7) that were currently in the process of seeking conjoint therapy to identify intra and interpersonal factors that influence relational help-seeking. Participants reported that female partners were the first to perceive a problem and suggest seeking professional help. In turn, male partners reported feeling a sense of failure and fear of judgment when considering couples counseling. Patterns of blame, withdrawal, and aggression contributed to increased distress, which eventually led these couples to counseling, some with mixed-agendas for services.

Integrating Gatekeeping Practices into Core Competencies in MFT Training: Development of the Core Competency-Based Assessment Measure

Gatekeeping is an important topic in human-service professions. Faculty members in couple and family therapy programs are responsible for regulating student acceptance into marriage and family therapy (MFT) training, and student graduation from these training programs; thus, regulating entry into the profession. Core competencies in MFT were developed to describe the competencies of MFTs (Nelson et al., Journal of Marital and Family Therapy 33(4):417–438, 2007). The core competencies detail skills that MFTs must master within about 2 years post-master’s degree. We propose that core competencies are useful ways to assess student progress, and therefore, useful gatekeeping tools. In this paper, we present a student assessment measure called the Core Competency Based Student Assessment, which may be useful to faculty members as they take on a gatekeeping role.

The use of Theory in Family Therapy Research: Content Analysis and Update.

In this study, we evaluated 275 empirical studies from Journal of Marital and Family Therapy and Family Process from 2010 to 2015 on their use of theory, and compared our findings to those of a similar previous analysis (Hawley & Geske, 2000). Overall, theory seems to have become much better incorporated in empirical family therapy research, with only 16.4% of the articles not using theory in either their introductory or discussion sections. Theory appeared better incorporated in the introductory sections than in the discussion sections. Systems theory remained the most commonly used conceptual framework, followed by attachment theory. We discuss areas for improving theory incorporation in family therapy research, and offer suggestions for both family therapy researchers and educators.

Psychometric Properties of an Italian Version of the Differentiation of Self Inventory-Revised (It-DSI-R)

The Differentiation of Self (DoS) is a key concept of Bowen’s theory, indicating a process that begins in early infancy and progresses throughout childhood and adolescence, to reach a basic level in early adulthood. This study examined the psychometric properties of an Italian version of the Differentiation of Self Inventory-Revised (DSI-R) Skowron, Schmitt, Journal of Marital and Family Therapy 29:209–222, 2003), a multidimensional measure assessing DoS as conceptualized by Bowen. The sample comprised 671 subjects (age 19–69 year). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses showed that the Italian DSI-R possesses good psychometric properties. Internal consistencies were adequate. Correlations with the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised, and the trait form of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were consistent with the theoretical relations among the constructs. The findings confirm the use of DSI-R as a psychometrically sound measure of the differentiation of self in the Italian context. Implications for future research and clinical practice are addressed.

Two-Year Follow-up Outcomes in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy: An Investigation of Relationship Satisfaction and Attachment Trajectories.

Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT; The practice of emotionally focused couple therapy: Creating connection. New York, NY: Brunner-Routledge) is an evidence-based couple therapy that aims to create lasting change for couples (Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 6(1), 67-79). Although studies have demonstrated strong results in follow-up (Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 28(4), 391-398), less is known about relationship functioning across time after therapy has ended. We modelled change in relationship satisfaction and attachment from pre-therapy through 24months follow-up in 32 couples. HLM results confirmed a significant growth pattern demonstrating increases in relationship satisfaction and secure base behaviour and decreases in relationship specific attachment anxiety over the course of therapy and across follow-up at a decelerated rate. These findings support the theoretical assumption that EFT helps couples engaged in therapy create lasting relationship satisfaction and attachment change.

Coming Out, Coming Home

Michael C. LaSala, PhD, is a nationally and internationally renowned expert on gay and lesbian youth and their families. He is currently the director of the MSW program and an associate professor at the School of Social Work at Rutgers University. His research interests are the couple and family relationships of gay men and lesbians, and his current work examines the role of gay and lesbian family relationships in coping with stigma and also parental influence on gay youth’s safe sex behaviors. Dr. LaSala’s published book, entitled: Coming out, coming home: Helping families adjust to a gay or lesbian child (Columbia University Press), describes the findings and practice implications of a National Institute of Mental Health–funded qualitative study of 65 gay and lesbian youth and their families. Other examples of Dr. LaSala’s work can be found in Social Work, Family Process, Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, Families in Society, Journal of GLBT Family Studies, and Journal of Lesbian and Gay Social Services. Dr. LaSala completed a Fulbright Fellowship during which he taught family therapy courses at Tallinn University in Estonia and where he also investigated the impacts of stigma on Estonian lesbians and gay men. He has been keynote speaker at national and international family therapy conferences and is also the author of a blog for Psychology Today entitled: Gay and Lesbian Well-Being. Dr. LaSala has practiced clinical social work for 30 years, is committed to practice-informed research, and continues to practice part-time as a licensed clinical social worker at the Institute for Personal Growth in Highland Park, New Jersey. Dr. LaSala can be reached at mlasala@ssw.rutgers.edu

A Content Analysis of Quantitative Research in Journal of Marital and Family Therapy: A 10-Year Review.

We examined the trends of quantitative research over the past 10years in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy (JMFT). Specifically, within the JMFT, we investigated the types and trends of research design and statistical analysis within the quantitative research that was published in JMFT from 2005 to 2014. We found that while the amount of peer-reviewed articles have increased over time, the percentage of quantitative research has remained constant. We discussed the types and trends of statistical analysis and the implications for clinical work and training programs in the field of marriage and family therapy.

Lee, R. E., & Nelson, T. S. (2013). The contemporary relational supervisor. New York: Routledge, 228 pp., $49.95.

Journal of Marital and Family TherapyVolume 40, Issue 3 p. 402-403 Reviews Lee, R. E., & Nelson, T. S. (2013). The contemporary relational supervisor. New York: Routledge, 228 pp., $49.95. Christopher K. Belous PhD, LMFT, Christopher K. Belous PhD, LMFT Mercer University, Atlanta, GASearch for more papers by this author Christopher K. Belous PhD, LMFT, Christopher K. Belous PhD, LMFT Mercer University, Atlanta, GASearch for more papers by this author First published: 21 July 2014 https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12060Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume40, Issue3July 2014Pages 402-403 RelatedInformation

Lebow, J. (2013). Couple and family therapy: An integrative map of the territory. Washington, DC: APA Books, 310 pp., $69.95.

Journal of Marital and Family TherapyVolume 40, Issue 3 p. 403-404 Reviews Lebow, J. (2013). Couple and family therapy: An integrative map of the territory. Washington, DC: APA Books, 310 pp., $69.95. Eli A. Karam PhD, LMFT, Eli A. Karam PhD, LMFT University of LouisvilleSearch for more papers by this author Eli A. Karam PhD, LMFT, Eli A. Karam PhD, LMFT University of LouisvilleSearch for more papers by this author First published: 21 July 2014 https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12071Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume40, Issue3July 2014Pages 403-404 RelatedInformation

Murray, C. E., & Graves, K. N. (2013). Responding to family violence: A comprehensive research‐based guide for therapists. New York, NY: Routledge, 480 pp., $54.95.

Journal of Marital and Family TherapyVolume 40, Issue 2 p. 263-264 Review Murray, C. E., & Graves, K. N. (2013). Responding to family violence: A comprehensive research-based guide for therapists. New York, NY: Routledge, 480 pp., $54.95. Megan Oka PhD, Megan Oka PhD Utah State UniversitySearch for more papers by this author Megan Oka PhD, Megan Oka PhD Utah State UniversitySearch for more papers by this author First published: 23 April 2014 https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12045Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL No abstract is available for this article. Volume40, Issue2April 2014Pages 263-264 RelatedInformation

Sweezy, M., & Ziskind, E. L. (2013). Internal family systems therapy: New dimensions. New York, NY: Routledge, 199 pp., $36.95.

Journal of Marital and Family TherapyVolume 40, Issue 2 p. 262-263 Review Sweezy, M., & Ziskind, E. L. (2013). Internal family systems therapy: New dimensions. New York, NY: Routledge, 199 pp., $36.95. Ryan B. Seedall PhD, Ryan B. Seedall PhD Utah State UniversitySearch for more papers by this author Ryan B. Seedall PhD, Ryan B. Seedall PhD Utah State UniversitySearch for more papers by this author First published: 23 April 2014 https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12033Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume40, Issue2April 2014Pages 262-263 RelatedInformation

Psychometric properties of the Differentiation of Self Inventory-Revised in Turkish adults.

The purpose of the current study was to examine the validity and reliability of (Journal of Marital and Family Therapy 2003, 29, 209) Differentiation of Self Inventory-Revised (DSI-R; Skowron & Schmit, 2003) in Turkish adults. The DSI-R was translated, independently back-translated, and revised. Two independent samples of adults over the age of 25 were used. The original 46-item DSI-R was not supported by the data derived from Sample 1 (n = 221). However, a revised 20-item, four-factor model fit the data well. This 20-item model was subsequently cross-validated with a second sample of Turkish adults (n = 187). Scale scores showed adequate internal consistency, 5-week test-retest reliability, and satisfactory convergent and criterion-related validity. It was concluded that Turkish DSI-R (DSI-T) is a valid and reliable measure to assess an individual's differentiation level. In light of the findings, implications for the use of the DSI-T and ideas for future research are discussed.

Introduction to the Special Section

Journal of Counseling & DevelopmentVolume 91, Issue 1 p. 3-5 Introduction to the Special Section Robert I. Urofsky, Robert I. Urofsky Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)Search for more papers by this authorCarol L. Bobby, Carol L. Bobby Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)Search for more papers by this authorMartin Ritchie, Martin Ritchie CACREP Board, University of Toledo.Search for more papers by this author Robert I. Urofsky, Robert I. Urofsky Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)Search for more papers by this authorCarol L. Bobby, Carol L. Bobby Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)Search for more papers by this authorMartin Ritchie, Martin Ritchie CACREP Board, University of Toledo.Search for more papers by this author First published: 11 January 2013 https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.2013.00064.xCitations: 2 concerning this article should be addressed to Robert I. Urofsky, CACREP, 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 510, Alexandria, VA 22314 (e-mail: rurofsky@cacrep.org). Read the full textAboutRelatedInformationPDFPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessClose modalShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Citing Literature Citation StatementsbetaSmart citations by scite.ai include citation statements extracted from the full text of the citing article. The number of the statements may be higher than the number of citations provided by Wiley Online Library if one paper cites another multiple times or lower if scite has not yet processed some of the citing articles.SupportingSupporting0MentioningMentioning3ContrastingContrasting0Explore this article's citation statements on scite.aipowered by Volume91, Issue1January 2013Pages 3-5 Citation StatementsbetaSmart citations by scite.ai include citation statements extracted from the full text of the citing article. The number of the statements may be higher than the number of citations provided by Wiley Online Library if one paper cites another multiple times or lower if scite has not yet processed some of the citing articles.SupportingSupporting0MentioningMentioning3ContrastingContrasting0Explore this article's citation statements on scite.aipowered by RelatedInformation RecommendedIntroduction to special section on Hydrologic SynthesisSusan Hubbard, George Hornberger, Water Resources ResearchIntroduction to special section on River Basin Management: Economics, Management, and PolicyR. Maria Saleth, Water Resources ResearchNew Research Findings on Emotionally Focused Therapy: Introduction to Special SectionSusan M. Johnson, Andrea K. Wittenborn, Journal of Marital and Family TherapyThe Evolution of Specialties in the CACREP Standards: CACREP's Role in Unifying the ProfessionCarol L. Bobby, Journal of Counseling & DevelopmentIntroduction to special section on River Basin Management: Economics, Management, and PolicyR. Maria Saleth, Water Resources Research

Differentiation of self: A validation study of the Bowen theory construct.

The Differentiation of Self Inventory—Revised (DSI-R; Skowron & Schmitt, 2003, “Assessing interpersonal fusion: Reliability and validity of a new DSI fusion with others subscale,” Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 29, 209 –222) assesses a central construct of Murray Bowen’s Family Systems Theory. Differentiation of self (DoS) consists of both intra- and interpersonal dimensions, or the capacities for affect regulation and negotiating relational separateness and togetherness. In this study we examined the internal and external structure of the DSI-R with a sample of 749 university students. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a three-factor, first-order solution and offered evidence for a two-dimensional higher-order structure of DoS. The three factors exhibited acceptable reliability and demonstrated theoretically consistent associations with parentification and mental health symptoms. The results confirm the use of the DSI-R as a psychometrically sound measure of DoS. Implications for future research and clinical practice are addressed.