Resolving attachment injuries in couples using emotionally focused therapy: steps toward forgiveness and reconciliation.
The goal of this study was to use task analysis to verify that the attachment injury resolution model described in this article discriminates resolved from nonresolved couples. Twenty-four couples with an attachment injury received, on average, 13 sessions of emotionally focused therapy (EFT). At the end of treatment, 15 of the 24 couples were identified as resolved. Segments of best sessions for all couples were transcribed and rated on 2 process measures. Resolved couples were found to be significantly more affiliative and achieved deeper levels of experiencing than nonresolved couples. They also showed significant improvements in dyadic satisfaction and forgiveness than nonresolved couples. The results support the attachment injury resolution model and suggest that resolution during EFT is beneficial to couples.
Makinen
Judy A
JA
Department of PsychologyUniversity of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. jumakine@rohcg.on.ca
Johnson
Susan M
SM
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008388:Marital Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D010555:Personality Inventory; D019962:Reactive Attachment Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*