• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.81-99
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• 2014

This study explored the experiences of couples therapists' marital relationship during the couples therapist training using phenomenological research method. The research questions involved the marital relationship experiences and their meanings, and how their marital relationship experiences affect the development of couples therapists during couples therapist training. Five couples therapists identified their personal, relational, and professional growth experiences by half-structured in-depth interview. Giorgi analysis guidelines were used, and five major themes and 20 subthemes were derived. The essence of their marital relationship experiences was "to establish a marital relationship as partners for growth and healing, and provide resources to become a wounded healer." Five major themes included the motivation to become a couples therapist, the experiencing of personal growth, the experiencing of differentiated connection, the experiencing of professional growth, and resources for the development of couples therapist. Exploration of the meanings of marital relationship experiences during couples therapist training shows the reciprocal relationship among personal, relational, and professional growth experiences. The integration of these experiences leads to holistic development of couples therapists. Implications for practice and future research are also discussed.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.93-114
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• 2009

The purposes of the study were to find the characteristics of spousal conflict, the characteristics of the origin of family in couple, the intervention techniques of the family therapist, and the processes of change in couple through family therapy. The total family counseling was 9 sessions, which included individual and couple therapy. The study used constant comparative analysis by using open coding method to find the factors. The study suggested the whole model for the study, which could be shown the processes of family therapy in this case study, by using graphical network display. The results of study showed the personal characteristics of husband and wife, the characteristics of the origin of family in couple, the intervention techniques of the family therapist, and the processes of change in husband through family therapy by using matrix. The results revealed that there were many differences in characteristics to cause spousal conflicts and characteriscts in family of origin to influence the crisis of divorce. The therapeutic intervention to treat the couples in the crisis of divorce were facilitation of communication between husband and wife, husband's differentiation of self from family of origin, and understanding about the perspectives of family members. As results of therapeutic intervention, there were showed the spousal change of recognition to each other, husband's differentiation of self, wife's growth of self, and improvement of communication.

• Journal of Family Relations
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.119-140
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate and confirm the main factors of IMAGO relationship therapy(IRT) which influences overcoming a crisis of divorce, the role of the Imago relationship therapist and the changes made by the couple themselves in the process of the therapy. Method: This case study was based on the interviews with a couple who had participated in ten sessions of IRT. The couple who had been in the middle of a divorce lawsuit withdrew their suit after the therapy. The Interviews were conducted twice on the couple. The data from the interviews were analyzed by using constant comparative analysis, open coding method and Miles & Huberman's network display. Results: The findings of the study were as follows. Firstly, the factors influencing overcoming a crisis of divorce included preparation for the Imago dialogue and the structure of the Imago dialogue. Secondly, the role of the therapist was providing safety and confidence, deepening couple's conversations, and building the connectedness of the couple. Thirdly, the changes evident after the therapy included awareness of the influence of the original family, new image formation for each spouse, intimacy restoration and a changed perspective. Conclusions: Based on the findings, the study can contribute to healthy relational progress of married couples in conflict by developing the conditions to effectively apply the IRT. In addition, this study can be used to equip therapists with necessary tools and abilities for the therapy.