title: Clients' relational conceptions of conjoint couple and family therapy quality: a grounded formal theory.
abstract: Based upon a qualitative metasynthesis of 49 articles centered on clients' experiences of their conjoint couple and family therapy, the investigators constructed a grounded formal theory of Clients' Relational Conceptions of Conjoint Couple and Family Therapy Quality. The theory suggests from pretherapy conceptions to posttherapy reflections, clients' perceptions of conjoint couple and family therapy quality appear to consist of clients' constructed meanings regarding a series of interrelated relationships between clients and their therapists and therapy environments, between clients and themselves, between clients and other family members, and between process and outcome both inside and outside therapy. Within and across these relationships, clients appear to focus on expectations, connections, balance, and change when evaluating the quality of their clinical experiences. Based upon this theory, the investigators recommend that researchers continue to explore this clinical phenomenon and that therapists regularly seek clients' conceptions of quality in therapy.
authors.affiliation: Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314, USA. ron@nova.edu
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Chenail
authors.forename: Sally St
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wulff
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.forename: Karen Wilson
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomm
mesh_terms: D003376:Counseling; D019546:Couples Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005192:Family Health; D005195:Family Relations; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018579:Patient Selection; D010465:Perception; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012944:Social Support