Religion and Couple Therapy: Description and Preliminary Outcome Data

摘要

This naturalistic study examined religion and couple therapy. Participants were 44 therapists and 68 couples entering couple therapy with religious couple therapists. At three time points during therapy, clients completed measures of relationship satisfaction, working alliance with the therapist, and satisfaction with therapy. Clients also described the techniques (religious and nonreligious) that were used in therapy. Most religious techniques were used in about one half of the sessions, and the religious commitment of clients was positively related to the number of religious techniques used. Preliminary evidence revealed that clients in therapy with religious couple therapists improved over time in relationship satisfaction and working alliance, and reported a high level of satisfaction with therapy. This study is a first step in exploring issues related to religion in couple therapy, and we conclude by providing recommendations for future research in this area.