A1 Journal article (refereed)
Somatic experience of emotion in emotionally focused couple therapy : Experienced trainer therapists' views and experiences (2022)

Kailanko, S., Wiebe, S. A., Tasca, G. A., Laitila, A. A., & Allan, R. (2022). Somatic experience of emotion in emotionally focused couple therapy : Experienced trainer therapists' views and experiences. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 48(3), 677-692. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12543

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Kailanko, Sari; Wiebe, Stephanie A.; Tasca, Giorgio A.; Laitila, Aarno A.; Allan, Robert

Journal or series: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy

ISSN: 0194-472X

eISSN: 1752-0606

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 23/07/2021

Volume: 48

Issue number: 3

Pages range: 677-692

Publisher: Wiley

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12543

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/78566

Abstract

In general, arousal of emotions is often felt and expressed as a somatic experience in the body. In Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT), the deepening of emotional experiencing enables therapeutic change. This research explores the experiences of eight experienced EFT trainer therapists regarding their somatic experiences in their work with couples. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis of transcribed in-depth interviews, this research data yielded three core themes that captured therapists' experiences of using their own and couples' somatic experiences in therapy: (1) the importance and relevance of somatic experiences, (2) therapists' use of their own somatic experiences, and (3) working with clients' somatic experiences. The findings suggest that therapists do focus on their own and couples' somatic experiences in their work with couples, and that EFT therapists could benefit from a map to guide therapists how to focus on felt, somatic experiences as a way of maintaining an emphasis on emotional experience.

Keywords: couples therapy; emotion-focused therapy for couples; psychosomatics; emotions; therapists; experiences (knowledge)

Free keywords: EFT; couple therapy; emotionally focused therapy; experiencing; somatic

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

Preliminary JUFO rating: 1