The Effect of Integrated Compassion Focused Therapy and Emotion, Marital Conflict of Married Women

Document Type : Original

Authors

1 M.A in family counselling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

2 Associate Professor of Consulting, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan. Iran

3 Professor Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Background: One of the factors that harm the quality of marriage is the conflict between couples. Marital conflict causes problems in the family structure, strength, and dissatisfaction with life, and finally, if attention is not paid to these two categories, it causes the collapse of the family system. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of integrated therapy focused on compassion and emotion on marital conflict in women in Isfahan. Method: In this study, which was a single type A-B, among the conflicting women referring to counseling centers (Tamasha and Razavi) in Isfahan in 2021, three women who were eligible to participate in the study were purposefully selected and were evaluated by the(Sanaii, Barati & Bustani, 2009) Marital Conflict Questionnaire. After achieving high marital conflict and receiving consent to participate in the study, he participated in treatment sessions based on integrated compassion and emotion-focused therapies (researcher-made) for 60 minutes once a week for 3 months. During this study, participants answered the questionnaire 12 times to determine the baseline and treatment progress before, during, and after the intervention. Descriptive index and inferential statistics of visual analysis were used to analyze the results. Findings: The improvement rate of marital conflict of three women in the intervention stage was 33-31-30%, respectively, which indicates the effect of the integrated treatment on the marital conflict of the participating women. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that integrated therapy based on compassion(CFT) and emotion(EFT) has led to the regulation of emotion in a semantic context and has reduced marital conflicts. Therefore, it can be concluded that the integrated treatment is effective in reducing marital conflict in conflicting women.

Keywords


Alami, M., Taimory, S., Ahi, GH., & Bayazi, M.H. (2020). Comparison Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and an Integrated Approach of Schema Therapy based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on Reduction of Marital Conflicts in Divorce Applicant Couples. Journal of Consulting Excellence and Psychotherapy Issue 9, 58- 71. https://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.25382799.1399.9.33.6.3 [Persian].
Alirezaei, M., Fathi Aghdam, Q., Ghamari, M., & Bazazian, S. (2020). Comparison of the effectiveness of reality therapy and schema therapy on stress syndrome in women with marital conflict. Journal of Psychiatric Nursing. 8 (2): 1-13. http://ijpn.ir/article-1-1500-en.html [Persian].
Amani, A., Isanejad I., & Alipour, E. (2018). Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment group therapy on marital distress, marital conflict, and optimism in married women visited the counseling of Imam Khomeini relief foundation in Kermanshah. SHENAKHT JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY, Volume 5, Number 1; 42-64. http://dx.doi.org/10.29252/shenakht.5.1.42 [Persian].
Baumeister, R. F. Bratslavsky, E., Finkenauer, C., & Vohs, K. D. (2001). Bad is Stronger than Good. Review of General Psychology, 5, 323-370. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.5.4.323
Berking, M., Margraf, M., Ebert, D., Wupperman P., Hofmann, S.G., & Junghanns, K., (2011). Deficits in emotion-regulation skills predict alcohol use during and after cognitive-behavioral therapy for alcohol dependence. Consult Clinical Psychology, 79(3), 307. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023421
Burpee, LC, & Langer, E.J. (2013). Mindfulness and marital satisfaction, Journal of Adult Dev, 12, 43-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10804-005-1281-6
Davis, K. (2017). Families: a handbook of concepts and techniques for the helping professional, (Spring translation, F), Tehran: Tazkieh Publications. 1996. https://www.amazon.com/Just-Forgiveness-Responsible-Excusing-Injustice/dp/0830837019.
Elliott, R., Watson, J., Goldman, R., & Greenberg, L.; (2019). Teaching emotion therapy is an empirical approach to change. (Translated by Ramezani, A.; Jamshidnejad, N.). Tehran: Arasbaran. (Original language release date: 2013). https://www.ketabcity.com/bookview.aspx?bookid=2216479 [Persian].
Farahani, H.; Abedi, A.; Agham Mohammadi, S; & Kazemi, Z. (2013). Applied principles of individual case studies in behavioral sciences and medical research. Tehran: Danjeh. https://www.gisoom.com/book/11487289/ [persian].
Frye, N., Ganong, L., Jensen, T., & Coleman, M. (2020). A Dyadic Analysis of Emotion Regulation as a Moderator of Associations Between Marital Conflict and Marital Satisfaction Among First-married and Remarried Couples. Journal of Family Issues 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X20935504
Gast, (2010). Single Subject Research Methodology in Behavioral Sciences.New York: Publisher: Routledge. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259105403
Ghahari, S., Jamil, L., Farrokhi R., & Davoodi, R. (2020). Comparing the Effects of Emotion-focused Couple Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Marital Conflict and Emotion Regulation. Journal of Practice in Clinical Psychology, 9(2), 121-132. https://doi.org/10.32598/jpcp.9.2.718.1. [persian].
Gharbboluk, M., & Hosseinzadeh, s. (2018). The Effectiveness of mindfulness Training on Quality of Perceptual Marital Relationship and Psychological Well-being of Women with Addicted Wife. Romanian Journal for Multidimensional Education / Revista Romaneasca pentru Educatie Multidimensionala. https://doi.org/10.18662/rrem/35 [persian].
Ghazanfari, B, Keshavarzi Arshadi, F, Hassani, F, & Emamipour S, (2020). Comparing the Effects of Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy and Choice Theory-Based Couple Therapy on Relationship Quality in Couples With Marital Conflicts. Journal of Disability Studies, 11, 38. https://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.23222840.1399.0.0.148.7 [persian].
Ghobadi, s, & Goodarzi, m, (2021). The effectiveness of EIS couple therapy training on marital conflict and marital boredom in infertile women during quarantine due to COVID-19. Journal of Applied Family Therapy, 2(5), 74-93. https://dx.doi.org/10.22034/aftj.2022.306751.1210 [persian].
Gilbert, P. & Procter., S. (2006). Compassionate mind training for people with high shame and self-criticism: overview and pilot study of a group therapy approach. 13(6), 353-379. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.507
Gilbert, p. (2009). Introducing Compassion Focused Therapy. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 15(3), 199-208. DOI:10.1192/APT.BP.107.005264
Gilbert, p. (2010). Training our minds in, with, and for compassion. An introduction to concepts and compassion-focused exercises. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Introducing-
Gilbert, P., Gilbert, J. & Sangher, J. (2004). A focus group exploration of the impact of izzat, shame, subordination, and entrapment on mental health and service use in South Asian women living in Derby. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 7(2), 109-130. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674670310001602418
Goudarzi, M, Shiri, F, & Mahmoudi, B,. (2018). Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Family Therapy on parent-child conflicts and marital conflict. Journal of Applied Psychology, 12(4), 531-551. https://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.20084331.1397.12.4.4.4 [persian].
Greenberg, L. S., & Goldman, R. N. (2008). Emotion-focused couples therapy: The dynamics of emotion, love, and power. American Psychological Association
Greenberg, L. S. (2021). Changing emotion with emotion. In L. S. Greenberg, Changing emotion with emotion: A practitioner's guide (pp. 59–90). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000248-004
Greenberg, L, S. & Goldman, N. (2019). Clinical Handbook of Emotion-Focused Therapy. American Psychological Association, Washington, DC. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000112-003
Halford, W. K. & Snyder, D. K. (2012). Universal processes and common factors in couple therapy and relationship education. Behavior Therapy, 43, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2011.01.007
Halchuk, R. E., Makinen, J. A. & Johnson, M. S. (2010). Resolving Attachment Injuries in Couples Using Emotionally Focused Therapy: A Three-Year Follow-Up. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 9, 31-47. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332690903473069
Hatamii M & Fadayi M. (2015).Effectiveness of Schema Therapy in Intimacy, Marital Conflict and Early Maladaptive Schemas of Women Suing for Divorce Int. J. Adv. Biol. Biom. Res, 3 (3), 285-290. http://www.ijabbr.com/article_14289.html
Jalali, N, Heydari, H, Davoudi, H, & Aleyasin, S. (2019). A Comparison between the Effectiveness of Training Intervention Based on an Emotionally Focused Approach and Gottman’s Relationship Enrichment Approach on Women’s Marital Conflicts. Cultural Psychology, 3(1), 41-62. https://dx.doi.org/10.30487/jcp.2019.94130 [persian].
Johnson, S. M., & Greenberg, L. S. (1985). The Differential Effectiveness of Experiential and Problem-Solving Interventions in Resolving Marital Conflict. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 53, 175-184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-012-9373-z
Kianipour, F., & Aminiha A. (2020). The effectiveness of emotion-focused couple therapy in emotional divorce and the quality of the relationship with the spouse's family. Family Counseling and Psychotherapy, 2, 195-212 https://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.22516654.1398.9.2.9.5 [persian].
Long, L., & Yang, M. (2007). Counseling and treatment issues in the couple. Translated by Ali Mohamad Nazari, (2018). Tehran: Avaye Noor Publisher. https://www.adinehbook.com/gp/product/6003090194
MacIntosh, H. B. Fletcher, K. & Ainsworth, L. (2019). Measuring Mentalizing in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples With Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors and Their Partners. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2019.1590274
Najafi, M., Soleimani, A.A., Ahmadi, Kh., Javidi, N., Hosseini Kamkar, A., & Pirjavid, F. (2012). Evaluation of the effectiveness of emotion-based couple therapy on increasing marital adjustment and promoting physical health. Psychology of infertile couples. Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Infertility, 17 (133): 8-21. https://doi.org/10.22038/IJOGI.2015.3703  [Persian].
Nawabi Nejad, Sh., & saadati, N. (2014). Common complaints in couple therapy: new methods in treating couple conflict. Tehran. Jungle. https://www.amazon.com/Common-Complaints-Couple-Therapy-Author/dp/B00XWR8VR2 [persian].
Panksepp, J., & Biven, L. (2012). The archaeology of mind: neuroevolutionary origins of human emotions. New York: Norton. https://doi.org/13: 978-0393705317
Rasuoli., A. (2017). Developing the Model of Family Functioning based on the Components of Hope, Intimacy and Marital Conflicts in Couples. Iranian Journal of Nursing Research. 12(4). 1-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.21859/ijnr-12041. [persian].
Russell, K. (2016). CFT Made Simple: A Clinician’s Guide to Practicing Compassion-Focused Therapy. New Harbinger Publications, Inc. https://www.amazon.com/CFT-Made-Simple-Clinicians-Compassion-Focused/dp/1626253099
sanai zaker, B., Barati, T., & Bustani, A. (2009). Family and marriage scales. Besat Publications. https://elmnet.ir/article/31717152-81171[persian].
Shahar, B. Carlin, E. R., Engle, D. E., Hegde, J., Szepsenwol, O. & Arkowitz, H. (2012). A Pilot Investigation of Emotion-Focused Two-Chair Dialogue Intervention for Self-Criticism. Clinical psychology and psychotherapy, 19, 496-507. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.762
Snyder, D. K., Castellani, A. M., & Whisman, M. A. (2006). Current status and future directions in couple therapy. Annu. Rev. Psychol., 57, 317-344. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.56.091103.070154
Wiesel, I. Shahar, B. Goldman, R. N. & Kalifa, E. B. (2021). Accuracy and Bias in Vulnerability Perceptions of Partners Undergoing Emotion-Focused Therapy for Couples. Family Process, 60(2), 377-392.  https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12587
Zaal, B., Arab, A., & Sanagouye-Moharer, GhR. (2020). Comparing the Effects of Forgiveness and Self-Compassion Training on Marital Conflicts in Females Facing Marital Infidelity. MEJDS, 10:192: 1-8. http://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.23222840.1399.10.0.229.8