Relationship-undermining statements by psychotherapists with clients who present with marital or couple problems
Research Report:
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Doherty, W. J., & Harris, S. M. (2022). Relationship-undermining statements by psychotherapists with clients who present with marital or couple problems. Family Process, 61(3), 1195-1207. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12774
Abstract Created by REACH:
This study examined the prevalence of 6 relationship-undermining statements (e.g., partner could not change, marriage beyond repair) made by therapists and whether these statements were linked with civilian clients’ relationship outcomes (e.g., relationship quality, decision to divorce or separate). 101 civilian clients who had attended couples therapy with their partner filled out an online questionnaire, in which over half of them indicated that they had received undermining statements related to their relationship problems from their therapists. Further, these statements were linked with lower relationship quality and worse relationship outcomes (e.g., divorce or separation) as reported by clients.
Focus:
Couples
Mental health
Subject Affiliation:
Civilian
Population:
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Aged (65 yrs & older)
Methodology:
Quantitative Study
Cross sectional study
Authors:
Doherty, William J., Harris, Steven M.
Abstract:
This study examined the prevalence of relationship undermining statements by psychotherapists as reported by clients in individual therapy who presented with relationship problems, and whether these statements were associated with worse outcomes for client relationships. Participants (n = 101) reported on recollections of whether their therapist had suggested that their partner would never change, had a diagnosable personality/mental health disorder, had negative motives, that the relationship was doomed from the start or beyond repair now, or that divorce/breakup was their best option. Findings showed high prevalence of these undermining statements and associations with poorer relationship outcomes and shorter duration of therapy. We discuss potential explanations for this phenomenon and offer implications for the training of therapists who treat individual clients with relationship problems.
Publisher/Sponsoring Organization:
Wiley Online
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Author Affiliation:
University of Minnesota, WJD
University of Minnesota, SMH
Keywords:
relationship undermining, couples therapy
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
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