Developing the person of the therapist when working with couples

Abstract

Whilst conducting couples therapy is a professional practice, couples’ therapists (CTs) play an active role in the therapeutic process not only professionally but also personally. Despite the increase in research into the person of the therapist, few studies have examined the person of the therapist issues specific to CTs. In this study, we aimed to explore the experiences of CTs regarding the interaction of their personal and professional beliefs and experiences when working with couples. A qualitative design was used, based on constructivist grounded theory. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 CTs in romantic relationships and working with couples. Three main categories were co-constructed through qualitative analysis: accessing what was brought in through the self, engaging with what the couples bring, and embracing the personal and professional selves. Awareness of the person of the therapist and learning how to use themselves to relate, assess, and intervene with clients enable CTs to create a secure therapeutic presence. The findings have useful implications for clinicians, couples therapy training program frameworks, and couples therapy supervision.