The Lived Experiences of Marital Therapy for Couples Who Have Achieved Positive Relationship Outcomes

Lambert Louise Lambert

Etd

The Lived Experiences of Marital Therapy for Couples Who Have Achieved Positive Relationship Outcomes

Public Deposited

MLA citation style (9th ed.)

Lambert Louise Lambert. The Lived Experiences of Marital Therapy for Couples Who Have Achieved Positive Relationship Outcomes. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/fa95d7db-2696-4444-b6eb-2af8b1bc2758?q=2021.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

L. L. Lambert. The Lived Experiences of Marital Therapy for Couples Who Have Achieved Positive Relationship Outcomes. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/fa95d7db-2696-4444-b6eb-2af8b1bc2758?q=2021

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

Lambert Louise Lambert. The Lived Experiences of Marital Therapy for Couples Who Have Achieved Positive Relationship Outcomes. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/fa95d7db-2696-4444-b6eb-2af8b1bc2758?q=2021.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

Creator

Lambert Louise Lambert

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Abstract

Marriage is in a crisis in North America. The reported divorce rate ranges between 30-50%. Separation and divorce is disrupting the stability of the family and its members, including Christian homes. Many couples, finding the prospect of marriage to be risky, are opting to cohabitate to test their relationships, which increases the potential for divorce should they marry. However, research shows that healthy, satisfying marriages have positive benefits for those couples and their children. Some couples that seek counseling for their marriage problems are able to adjust well and rebuild their marital relationships, while others are not. An interpretive phenomenological analysis examined the lived experiences of six couples, who were nominated by mental health professionals or self-referred, and confirmed by the Dyadic Adjustment Scale as couples who achieved positive relationship outcomes following marriage counseling. In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted, and a conceptual mapping task was completed, for each participating couple. After a rigorous analysis of the data, four significant themes emerged. Achieving healthy relationship functioning for couples following marriage counseling involves: (a) improving their communication, (b) being willing to work on their relationship, (c) accepting their partners for who they are, and (d) relying on their faith as a resource. The results of this study may have important implications for couples in marriage counseling, as well as those working with couples: counselors, therapists, pastors, medical practitioners, community organizations, and faith-based organizations.

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