Journal of Counseling Research

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Aim: The purpose of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of emotional-focused couple therapy and imago relationship (Imago) Therapy on the marital conflicts of couples referring to counseling centers in Tehran city. Methods: Research method was a quasi–experimental with pre and post-test and o control group. The statistical population consisted of couples who had are to ten years of marriage experience and had at least one child. The sample included 30 couples who were selected by chance among couples volunteered to participate in this study and 10 couples randomly assigned to experimental and control groups, while each couple was considered as one unit for analysis. Sanaie and others (2008) revised marital conflicts (MCQR) questionnaire which has 54 items and assess decreased cooperation and sexual relationship, increased emotional reactions, increased children support, increased relationship with their own relatives, decreased relationship with spouse relatives and friends, separation of financial affairs, and decreased effective communication used to assess marital conflicts of couples. Data analysis was done by covariance analysis method. Findings: Emotional - focused couple therapy and Imago therapy decreased couples marital conflicts, but there was no meaningful difference in their effectiveness on couples marital conflicts. Conclusion: Both emotional–focused therapy and Imago therapy are effective in reducing couples marital conflicts and can be used to help couples with marital conflicts

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Aim: The goal for this research was to assess the effectiveness of the two approaches in couples therapy, one being based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and the other being Imago therapy (IRT), on couple’s sexual intimacy. Methods: Quasi-experimental method with pre and post-test and control group were used. Total of 45 couples from among those who used counseling centers in city of Kermanshah during the year 2019 participated voluntarily in this research. They were randomly assigned to three 15-couple groups of ACT, Imago Therapy, and control. Eight 90-minute sessions were conducted using ACT with one group and Imago Therapy with another group. Data was collected using sexual intimacy questionnaire that was adapted from Enrich scale. Findings: Covariance analysis showed (p>0.05) couples therapy based on ACT and Imago Therapy techniques were effective in improving sexual intimacy in couples. These findings showed utilizing techniques in ACT-based couples therapy, cause psychological acceptance about mental experiences and decrease ineffective controlling behaviors.

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Aim: Intimacy is a basic human need and one of the principals of marital life. This study aimed to investigate the factors enhancing couple’s intimacy. This research was conducted qualitatively, based on grounded theory. Methods: The population included all married individuals from Shiraz who were married for at least one year. Ten of them were interviewed using semi-structured questions until data saturation was reached. The main question of the research was "In what ways couples may enhance their intimacy?". Findings: According to the findings, the main categories were: constructive criticism, constructive and non-judgmental conversation, conversational skills, support and reliability, mutual respect, fun, interpersonal character, harmony in different aspects, relationship with surrounding systems, boundary, growth and development, respect for desires and interests, mutual understanding, acceptance, task allocation, caring to mutual needs, knowing each other and individualization, and core categories were: effective communication and understanding of differences. Conclusion: In the present study, two categories of factors are effective in promoting the intimacy of couples. These factors include both intra-family and extra-family concepts. Accordingly, it is suggested that improving effective communication skills as well as comprehension and acceptance skills in couples, promote their intimacy.

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Aim: The purpose of the present study was to discuss the implications of the lessons from the Quran in managing the roles and relationships in couples. Methods: Using the qualitative method and applying content analysis, all verses related to couples from Quran were explored. Results: According to the results of the study, the main identified themes for the stage of marriage included romantic relationships, couples’ roles, boundaries, distribution of family management, financial relationships, sexual relationships, and conflict resolution in couples’ relationships.  Conclusion: Based on the lessons from the Quran, the religious attitude can be considered a powerful tool in order to decrease marital conflicts and eventually in increasing marital satisfaction.

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Aim: Intimacy among couples is an important factor in sustainable marriages. If couples' intimacy fades, it will affect their tendency toward extramarital relations. Individuals' style of attachment form during childhood and exert a notable influence on the formation of their marital intimacy during adulthood. Therefore, the goal of the present research was to study the mediating role of marital intimacy in relation between attachment styles and attitude of  Methods: This research is a descriptive-analytic study of correlational type. The statistical population is comprised of all married men and women of Tehran in the Iranian year of 1396. The study's sample was chosen from the population using the convenient sampling method. Data collection tools included Mark Whatley (2006) Q Attitude Toward Transnational Relationships Questionnaire, Collins & Read (1990) Attachment Style Questionnaire, and Thompson and Walker (2002) Marital Intimacy Questionnaire. The total population size of the sample was 650 couples, consisting of 357 women and 293 men.   Data analysis was done using the path analysis method and the AMOS statistical software from SPSS company. Results: Analyzing the correlation coefficients and their standardized values, in addition to the related t-test values, indicated that the direct effect of the anxiety-driven attachment style on marital intimacy is meaningful (P≤0/05). Furthermore, the indirect effect of marital intimacy on tendency toward infidelity is meaningful (P≤0/05). Conclusion: Since marriage and choosing a partner is one of the most important decisions in life, considering the predicting role of unsafe attachment style and the role of marital intimacy in individuals' tendency toward infidelity, the necessity of analyzing these two variables as it applies to premarital counseling and parental training about child education and attachment styles, must be emphasized.

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Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of reality-based and emotionally focused couple therapy (EFCT) interventions on the happiness and resilience of couples. Methods: The method of the present study was a single case experimental design of multiple simultaneous baselines. The statistical population of the study were maladapted couples referred to Talieh Mehr Couple Therapy Center in Tehran (149 couples), in which 6 couples were selected as a sample by purposive and voluntary sampling method. Then, the approaches were performed in pairs for reality therapy and EFT for each couple with a two-month follow-up. The standard Oxford happiness (Argyle, Martin, Crossland, 1989) and Conor-Davidson resilience (Conor-Davidson, 2003) questionnaires were completed as data collection tools. Data were analyzed by visual mapping, stable change index, and recovery percentage formula. Results: The results showed that reality therapy-based couple therapy increased the happiness and resilience of couples (61.06% and 49.31% recovery, respectively) and its effect was maintained until the end of the two-month follow-up period (60.05% and 51.88% recovery). Also, EFCT increased the happiness and resilience of couples, respectively (28.06% and 28.87% recovery) and its effect was maintained until the end of the two-month follow-up period (26.81% and 29.73%, recovery). The index of their change in reliability also indicated that these changes were significant (p <0.05). Conclusion: The results showed the effectiveness of couple therapy interventions based on reality therapy and EFT on increasing the happiness and resilience of incompatible couples and the mentioned approaches can explain the desirable degree of variability of happiness and resilience of incompatible couples.

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Aim: The purpose of this study was to extract the lived experiences of working couples from marital conflicts. Methods: This study was conducted with a qualitative approach using interpretive phenomenology. In this study, researchers interviewed 12 working couples with marital conflicts using purposeful sampling. Interviews were analyzed using interpretive phenomenology. Findings: Analyzing the data from the interviews led to the identification of the 14 main themes: financial conflict, inappropriate interactions in social media, lack of participation in house chores, ineffective communication, inability in reciprocal empathy and expression,  lack of time management,  conflict of roles and responsibilities, cognition vulnerability, adherence to gender stereotypes, inability to manage tasks at job and work environment, work-family conflict, power struggles, ultra-personal destructive factors and belief and ethical problems, 55 primary and 12 secondary themes in the lived experiences of working couples from marital conflicts. Conclusion: A dual-career family is a place where couples are more likely to enter into marital conflicts if they do not realize fairness in various areas of family and work. The results of the present study showed that the families of career couples may be a high-risk group in terms of conflict, and this factor indicates the need for a negotiating role in the relationship between this type of couple. This highlights the need for special couple therapy for these couples. The results of the present study also showed that ineffective communication, cognitive vulnerability, work-family interaction, financial conflict and lack of participation in home affairs, were the most common causes of marital conflict; so it is recommended that preventive and educational programs for couples include the abovementioned factors.

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The aim of the present study was to compare and evaluate the effectiveness of Contextual Therapy fair-centered (CT) (based on Ivan Böszörményi-Nagy) and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) on increasing Marital Intimacy and reducing Marital Burnout in couples. The method was semi-experimental with a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population included all couples who in 2017-2018 referred to the Sanam private office of counseling and psychological services (under the supervision of the Psychology and Counseling Organization of Iran) in the city of Urmia. Among them, 24 couples who have referred to this center due to marital conflicts, after matching the subjects and the criteria for entering and leaving the research, were purposefully selected and randomly assigned to three groups (Eight pairs in each group), which are two experimental groups and one control group. After performing the pretest, the Contextual Therapy group were performed 10 sessions and Emotion-Focused Therapy was 9 for each pair. The questionnaires used included Walker and Thompson's intimacy scale and Pines 's Burnout Scale. To analyze the data and hypotheses, the statistical test method of “repeated measurement variance analysis” and SPSS software were used. Findings showed that the effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy in increasing intimacy was significantly (p < 0.001) than the Contextual. But there is no significant difference between the two approaches in reducing “marital boredom”, Also, the findings showed that, over time, the effectiveness of the Contextual Therapy approach to the Emotion-Focused Therapy in “marital burnout” is more stable. Conclusion: In comparison Emotion-Focused Therapy a more effective effect in increasing intimacy and the effectiveness of the two approaches in reducing marital burnout is the same,but in the long run, the Contextual approach has shown better therapeutic stability in improving Marital burnout.

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Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of emotion focused couple therapy on mental well-being and performance of maladapted couple referred to counselling centers. Methods: the present study had a quasi-experimental design with pretest-posttest, and a control group. The statistical population of the study consisted of all incompatible couples (n=30 couples) who had referred to counseling centers in shiraz in 1397, which were selected through available sampling method. Out of these 30 couples, 15 couples were randomly substituted as experimental group and 15 couples as control groups; and individuals in both groups were evaluated using questionnaires before performing the intervention in the experimental group. Data collection tools included the Great Oral and Magyar-Moe Welfare Family Performance Scale, the experimental group received ten 90-minute sessions of emotional treatment, while the control group did not receive any treatments. Data were analyzed by one–way analysis of covariance. Findings: The results of one-way analysis of covariance on the mean scores of post-test of mental well-being and family dysfunction of experimental and control groups with pre- test control, respectively (p<0.0001, F=40.77) and (p<0.0001, F=172.59), which indicates the significance of the effect of emotion-focused couple therapy. Conclusion: The analysis showed the effectiveness of emotion-focused couple therapy in increasing mental well-being and performance of conflicted couples.

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Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Imago-Therapy and Transactional Analysis in improving communication skills, conflict resolution, and rejection sensitivity of couples referred to Masjed Soleiman counseling centers. Methods: The method of this experimental study was pre-test and post-test, with follow-up, on an experimental and control groups. The statistical population of this study included all couples who referred to Masjed Soleiman counseling centers in 2019. Four counseling centers were selected randomly from the statistical population, and then 20 couples (40 persons) were randomly assigned into two experimental groups (10 couples for each group). Experimental groups were trained for ten 1.5 hour sessions. To collect the data, Quinn Dam Communication Skills Questionnaire, Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ), and Marital Conflict Questionnaire (MCQ) were used. Multivariate repeated measures analysis of variance was used to analyze the data. Findings: The results of the analysis showed that Transactional Analysis was more effective on the variables of communication skills, conflict resolution and rejection sensitivity than imago-therapy (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, it can be said that imago-therapy and transactional analysis effective on communication skills, conflict resolution, and rejection sensitivity of couples, but transactional analysis was more effective than imago-therapy.

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Aim: The present study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of combining contextual and structural family therapies on cohesion and coping strategies of couples with marital dissatisfaction. Methods: This ‎experimental ‎research study utilized a pretest-‎posttest and two-month follow-‎up, with ‎control group design. The research population consisted of all couples with marital dissatisfaction who referred to family counseling centers in city of Birjand during the first 6 months of 2019. Furthermore, 20 couples with marital dissatisfaction were selected as the participants of the study using convenience and purposive sampling and were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control groups (10 couples in each group). The experimental group received the treatment for ten 90-minute weekly ‎sessions and the control group received no intervention during this time. The research instruments included the Lazarus and Folkman (1988) Coping Strategies Questionnaire and The Olson, Portner and Levy (1996) Cohesion Questionnaire, which were administered to the participants in the pretest, post-test and follow-up. To analyze the data, repeated-measures ‎ANOVA‎ was used. Results: The research findings demonstrated that the combination of contextual and structural family therapies was effective regarding cohesion and coping strategies of couples with marital unsatisfaction. It should be noted that the persistence of the treatment effect was maintained after two months (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the findings of the study, it can be concluded that the combination of contextual and structural family therapies increased cohesion and problem-oriented coping strategies of maladjusted couples in the experimental group, compared to the control group.

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Abstract
Aim: The present study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of integrative couple therapy and integrative behavioral couple therapy on increasing the emotional and sexual intimacy of couples affected by infidelity in Shahriar (Andishe city in Iran). Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The statistical population included couples whose male partner had cheated, and were referred to counseling centers of Andishe city in 2018. Twenty four couples were selected through convenient sampling and randomly assigned into two experimental groups and one control group (8 couples in each group). The subjects in the two experimental groups attended 10 couple therapy sessions, whereas no intervention was carried out for the control group. The subjects responed to the Marital Intimacy Needs Questionnaire (Bagarozzi, 2001). Results: The results of analysis of covariance and block analysis of variance showed that integrative behavioral couple therapy and integrative couple therapy had a significant effect on the component of satisfaction with confrontation in the dimension of sexual intimacy )p<0.05), but no significant difference was observed between the two approaches. Integrative behavioral couple therapy was also effective in increasing emotional intimacy in all components, but this effectiveness was not achieved in integrative couple therapy. Conclusion: Considering the effectiveness of integrative couple therapy and integrative behavioral couple therapy on the component of satisfaction with confrontation in sexual intimacy, the use of these approaches in promoting sexual intimacy of couples affected by infidelity may be effective. Also, considering the effectiveness of integrative behavioral couple therapy in increasing emotional and sexual intimacy, this approach can be used by couple therapists.
 

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Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching emotion management strategies based on Emotional Focus Therapy approach on improving marital satisfaction. Methods: The present study is a quasi-experimental study. The statistical population of this study consisted of all couples who referred to counseling centers in Saadatabad region in Tehran during the year 2021. For sampling, all couples interviewed were selected through convenient sampling and had referred to Amin Pajooh and Binesh Counseling Centers.  After conducting an interview based on marital self-disclosure, 47 couples were identified as conflicted, all of whom volunteered to attend treatment sessions. Among them, 32 couples were randomly assigned to the experimental group (16 couples) and the control group (16 couples). To test the hypothesis, analysis of covariance was done using SPSS-22 software. Findings: According to table 4-11, the proportion of F covariance analysis for family functioning (P=0/001 and F=26/2) and for marital satisfaction (P=0/001 and F=37/3) were obtained. The results of the study showed that there was a significant difference in marital satisfaction during pre-test, post-test and follow-up. Eta squared size shows that 31% of intra-group changes can be explained by receiving training in emotion management strategies on marital satisfaction.  Conclusion: According to the findings, it can be said that emotion management strategies have an effect on marital satisfaction. As a result, this training can be used in couple therapy interventions.

 

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Aim: Divorce-seeking couples have many problems in their marital relationships, and one of the effective methods in improving the characteristics related to marital life is through offering a combined-approach educational method. The present study was conducted in order to determine the effect of combined therapy based on acceptance and commitment and schema therapy on values ​​and psychological acceptance in couples applying for divorce. Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental with a pre-test/post-test design with a control group. The statistical population included all couples applying for divorce who were referred from Behshahr City Court to counseling centers dedicated to the Divorce Reduction Program, during the second 6 months of 2018. In this clinical trial, 32 people (16 couples applying for divorce) were selected through available sampling method and were randomly divided into two groups of 16 individuals (treatment and control groups). Combined couple therapy intervention based on acceptance and commitment and schema therapy (Liu and McKay, 2012) was implemented in 14 ninety-minute sessions in a group format (treatment group). Research tools included acceptance and action questionnaire (Bond et al., 2011) and personal values ​​questionnaire (Schwartz, 2002). Data analysis was done by multivariate covariance analysis. Findings: The results showed that integrated couple therapy based on acceptance and commitment and schema therapy has significantly led to the improvement of acceptance and practice and values ​​in couples applying for divorce in the post-test stage (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results of the research show the effectiveness of integrated couple therapy based on acceptance and commitment and schema therapy on values ​​and psychological acceptance in couples applying for divorce.

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Aim: The purpose of this research was to identify the indicators of changes in marriage from 1978 to 2022. Methods: To achieve the set goals, qualitative method (Strauss and Corbin's Grounded Theory) was used. Ten psychologist experts in marrage field with an average of 30.6 years of specialized activity in the field of couple relationship were selected using the purposeful sampling method and interviewed in depth until theoretical saturation. The data were recorded, coded and then classified in the form of concepts, sub-categories and main categories. Findings: The analysis of the professional experience of experts led to the identification of 138 secondary codes, 27 concepts, 8 sub-categories and 3 main categories. Changes in extra-spousal, inter-spousal and individual factors are the main categories of this research. Changes in factors such as roles, the phenomenon of divorce, the degree of influence of society, social teachings, the media, increasing the awareness of society, demographic characteristics, social experiences, policies, economic issues, modernization, cultural integration, attitudes, religious issues, the role of the family, the nature of relationship, relationships between the sexes, infidelity, commitment to responsibilities, drug/alcohol abuse, needs, choosing a spouse, motivation, knowledge of life, openness to new experience, and individual identity have been mentioned. Conclusion: This research showed that marriage during the years (1978-2022) was affected by changes in intra-individual, inter-spousal and extra-spousal factors. From the point of view of correcting the unfavorable situation of marriage at the time of research, stable and constructive economic, social and cultural policies seem necessary. Also, taking into account the current conditions of the society and the world, dealing with trainings that are appropriate to the changes that have occurred, paying attention to the individual identity and the needs of the new generation, can also help in arranging the marriage situation

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Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Emotional Couple Therapy Training (Hold Me Tight) on couples' emotional abuse. Methods: The current study was an experimental ABA single-subject design investigation. The statistical population consisted of all couples who had attended counseling centers in city of Bojnord (Iran) during 2021. From this population, three couples who had met the inclusion criteria were purposefully selected. The Emotional Abuse Scale (EAS) was used to collect data in three stages (baseline, intervention, and follow-up). The intervention consisted of the emotional couple therapy training (hold me tight) that was administered in eight 120-minute sessions for each of the 3 pair of couples. Data analysis primarily included visual analyses, such as level, trend, and variability at three stages of baseline, intervention, and follow-up, both as within-condition, and between-condition layers. Findings: Results showed that the emotional couple therapy training (Hold Me Tight) is effective in reducing emotional abuse. The effectiveness of the results lasted for two months after the intervention. Conclusion: Given the effectiveness of emotional couple therapy, therapists are recommended to draw on this protocol to help couples struggling with emotional problems such as abuse and violence.
 

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 Aim: Caregiving is fundamental to human relationships and plays a crucial role in the quality and stability of marital relationships. The present study aimed to explain the concept of couple caregiving. Methods: This qualitative research was conducted in 2021, adopting a grounded theory approach. For this purpose, ten couples residing in city of Aligudarz (Iran) were selected based on inclusion criteria and purposive sampling. The sampling continued until data saturation was reached. These individuals were examined through semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin’s (2014) method and the MAXQDA20 software.  Findings: The data analysis led to the identification of 78 open codes and 13 axial codes in the form of causal conditions: life history, conscious marriage; contextual conditions: individual and couple contexts; efficient couple relationship; Intervening conditions: behavioral and cognitive facilitating factors; obstacles: personal and environmental stressors; Strategies for sustaining and improving care, and persona; outcomes for the caregiver and care recipient and couple outcomes and the central theme of “reciprocal couple caregiving” was chosen. Conclusions: The findings indicated that factors influencing couple caregiving extend to the time before marriage. Couple caregiving involves conscious marriage and proactive and constructive actions of the couple. It is an interactive and reciprocal process that enhances the insight and awareness of the couple, and the use of care-seeking and caregiving receptivity strategies significantly contributes to its continuity.

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Aim: Many studies have been conducted to investigate the effectiveness of couple coping skills training. Many of these studies found substantial differences when compared to the control group, however, the exact effect is unclear, and more research is needed to integrate these findings. The goal of this meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET). Methods: Twenty studies that can be investigated in terms of technique were chosen and analyzed. SID.IR, Magiran.com, Noormags.com, Sciencedirect.com, jstor.org, tandfonline.com, Wiley.com, link.springer.com, APA and Google Scholar databases are among the information search resources. Couples coping enhancement training (CCET) was the search term. CMA2 software and Hedges' g index were used for data analysis and effect size calculation. Results: The findings of this meta-analysis showed that the fixed effect size of CCET is 0.27 and the random effect size is 0.13. When the heterogeneity of results was examined using Cochran's Q test, the Q value was 2488.87 and the I-squared value was 92.16, both of which were significant (p > 0.001). As a result, the effect sizes vary, and the random effect model should be used to examine the effects. The g value of the random Hedges was 0.27 (p < 0.001). Clinically, this value is regarded as less than usual. As a result, it was decided that CCET was ineffective. Furthermore, a comparison of effects in studies conducted in Iran (64 studies) and Switzerland (132 studies) reveals that the fixed and random Hedges' g in Iran are 0.62 and 0.73, respectively, and 0.06 and 0.09 in Switzerland. The value of I square in both societies is higher than 0.90. Hedges' g has a minor effect on Swiss society and a moderate effect on Iranian society. Conclusions: Therapists should pay attention to the ignored elements discussed in this article in addition to treatment.

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Aim: This research was conducted to investigate the effect of emotion-focused approach training on improving interpersonal sensitivity in couples on the verge of divorce. Methods: The research method was quantitative and semi-experimental (pre-test-post-test design, with control group). The statistical population of the present study includes couples on the verge of divorce in Tehran province, regions 11 and 12, who are between the ages of 25 and 35 years old and have been selected voluntarily and based on the inclusion criteria for the study. The sample size of the study was 20 couples on the verge of divorce, who were selected by random sampling from couples on the verge of divorce who had referred to legal centers and counseling centers in Tehran for legal matters. The data collection tool was the interpersonal sensitivity questionnaire, and to test the research hypotheses, multivariate analysis of covariance was used with the assumptions (homogeneity of regression coefficients, linearity of the relationship between variables, normal distribution of the studied characteristic, homogeneity of variances). Findings: The results of the study indicate that the dimensions of interpersonal sensitivity (interpersonal awareness, need for approval, separation anxiety, shyness, and low self-esteem) in couples on the verge of divorce who received emotion-focused approach training were lower than those in couples who did not receive this training. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the emotion-focused approach training program had a significant effect on improving interpersonal sensitivity in couples on the verge of divorce and could be considered as an effective training program by psychologists and counselors.