A1 Journal article (refereed)
Impact of repeating somatic cues on the depth of experiencing for withdrawers and pursuers in emotionally focused couple therapy (2022)

Kailanko, S., Wiebe, S. A., Tasca, G. A., & Laitila, A. A. (2022). Impact of repeating somatic cues on the depth of experiencing for withdrawers and pursuers in emotionally focused couple therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 48(3), 693-708. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12544

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

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

Journal or series: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy

ISSN: 0194-472X

eISSN: 1752-0606

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 01/08/2021

Volume: 48

Issue number: 3

Pages range: 693-708

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12544

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/77267

Abstract

Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy, an experiential modality, views emotion central to therapeutic change. In this exploratory study, we examined therapists' repetition of somatically focused interventions (therapist verbalizing somatic cues, such as facial expressions) and their impact on clients' emotional experiencing in-session. We also assessed difference for withdrawing versus pursuing partners. The sample included 13 EFT therapists who worked with one couple each for a single session. From transcripts we coded therapists' repetition of somatically focused interventions and clients' depth of experiencing pre-and post-intervention. Multilevel modeling demonstrated that a higher number of repetitions of somatically focused interventions predicted greater increase in depth of experiencing, unlike length of time spent repeating interventions. Somatically focused interventions resulted in greater increase in depth of experiencing for withdrawing as compared to pursuing partners. The results of this exploratory study suggest that such interventions may be a specific technique of EFT therapists that enhances emotional experiencing especially among withdrawing partners.

Keywords: couples therapy; emotion-focused therapy for couples; emotions; a posteriori

Free keywords: couple therapy; experiential modality; emotions

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2022

JUFO rating: 1