Biomedical subjects

D H Sprenkle

Publications and source records attributed to D H Sprenkle.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Common factors across theories of marriage and family therapy: a modified Delphi study.

The Delphi methodology was used to explore common factors across theories of marriage and family therapy (MFT). Leading clinicians and researchers from the American Family Therapy Academy and select faculty members from MFT training programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education were asked to achieve consensus regarding common factors. Respondents were asked to report on commonalities across the various MFT theories, as well as what they personally considered to be the core ingredients of change. A final profile of items was created from the responses. Qualitative interviews were conducted with selected panelists to clarify discrepancies as well as to add meaning to the data. Implications for the training and practice of MFTs as well as direction for future research are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

GAPS between MFT supervision assumptions and common practice: suggested best practices.

This article summarizes gaps between assumptions that appear in the literature, research, and accepted standards for marital and family therapy (MFT) supervision, and the common practice of supervisors. Issues that stem from these gaps are highlighted and recommendations are made for closing them. In an effort to refine the standard of practice for MFT supervision, best practice recommendations are offered for MFT supervision.

Ethics, Professional↗

PubMed2001

A graduate course in marriage and family enrichment.

Legislation aimed at decreasing the divorce rate and the resurgence of interest in marriage and family enrichment have propelled educators to consider how well they are training new therapists in the preventive approaches to therapy. In this article, we present a graduate course to educate students about the enrichment movement and skill- and competency-based approaches to family intervention. We provide a general outline for teaching the course as well as specific resources and guidelines that can be of value to all marriage and family therapy practitioners.

Curriculum↗

PubMed2000

Clients' perceptions of pivotal moments in couples therapy: a qualitative study of change in therapy.

Few qualitative research studies have been conducted on change processes in couples therapy, and even fewer have focused on the clients' perceptions of change processes. In this grounded theory qualitative study on marital therapy, clients' perceptions and experiences of pivotal moments are identified. Analysis of transcripts of therapy sessions, postsession questionnaires, and two posttherapy interviews with each couple revealed that clients did identify specific therapy events or discourses as pivotal. Reports of pivotal moments tended to be highly individualized accounts, with little overlap spouses and little overlap between therapist and client identification of pivotal moments. Pivotal moments tended to occur during discussions of topics that were presenting problems for the couple but, typically, after repeated discussions of the same topic. Other findings and implications are discussed.

Attitude↗

PubMed1995

Association of interpersonal cognitive complexity with communication skill in marriage: moderating effects of marital distress.

Little research has examined the influence of social cognition on communicative behaviors that spouses exhibit in conversational interactions. The present study examined the associations between interpersonal cognitive complexity and three marital communication skills: communication effectiveness (generating messages that have the desired outcome), predictive accuracy (anticipating accurately the effects of a message on a receiver), and perceptual accuracy (correctly inferring the intent of a message source). The study also evaluated whether marital distress moderated associations between cognitive complexity and communication skills. Participants (60 couples) discussed a problem from their own marriage and a vignette from the Inventory of Marital Conflicts (Olson & Ryder, 1970) using the communication box. Cognitive complexity was moderately associated with perceptual accuracy, weakly associated with communication effectiveness, and not associated with predictive accuracy. Subsidiary analyses revealed that associations between cognitive complexity and the communication skills were generally stronger in the subsample of distressed couples than in the subsample of nondistressed couples.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Integrating qualitative and quantitative research methods: a research model.

A historical antagonism between proponents of qualitative methods and quantitative methods has prevented recognition of the benefits to be gained by employing both methods (that is, a multi-method approach) during the same study or program of studies. Increasingly, family therapy researchers have begun to recognize the value of a multi-method approach in bridging the current gaps among theory, research, and practice. However, current writings have yet to move beyond the discussion stage. This article proposes a bidirectional continuum that includes both qualitative and quantitative methods. An ethnographic content analysis approach is presented to illustrate the procedural stages of this continuum. The article ends with a discussion of the challenges in carrying out a bidirectional, multi-method approach and the potential contributions that an integrative research methodology will give both researchers and clinicians.

Family Therapy↗

PubMed1993

Dropping out of marriage and family therapy: a critical review of research.

The lack of attention given to research on the premature termination by clients in marriage and family therapy is evident in research reviews of the dropout phenomenon in psychotherapy. This article is an attempt to fill that void. The research literature on dropping out of family therapy is reviewed and organized. Studies in this area tend to focus on four kinds of variables: client characteristics, therapist characteristics, therapy process variables, and interventions. Stable findings in each of these areas are pointed out. Both limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Family Therapy↗

PubMed1983

Circumplex model of marital and family systems: VI. Theoretical update.

This paper updates the theoretical work on the Circumplex Model and provides revised and new hypotheses. Similarities and contrasts to the Beavers Systems Model are made along with comments regarding Beavers and Voeller's critique. FACES II, a newly revised assessment tool, provides both "perceived" and "ideal" family assessment that is useful empirically and clinically.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1982

Ecosystemic epistemology: critical implications for the aesthetics and pragmatics of family therapy.

This paper proposes that family therapy be responsive to both aesthetic and pragmatic considerations. Ecosystemic epistemology, a framework of ideas based on cybernetics, ecology, and systems theory, is suggested as a way of encompassing these different perspectives. Several critical ideas, often ignored by an overemphasis on pragmatics, involve: (a) the function of language in the relation between epistemology and clinical practice; (b) healthy and pathological family ecologies; (c) art and technique in therapy; and (d) the issue of manipulation.

Art↗

PubMed1981

Privileged communication in therapy: special problems for the family and couples therapist.

Misconceptions concerning the existence and scope of the legal privilege for communications in therapy are considered. Basic limitations on the protection afforded by the privilege are treated, as are some major specific exceptions and waivers, particularly as they raise special difficulties for the therapist who works with groups, couples and families. Practical suggestions for the therapist and directions for policymaking by the helping professions are presented.

Child↗

PubMed1980

Sexual therapy for the post coronary patient.

This paper examines the theory and research on the subject of sexual activity post myocardial infarction. An etiological model of sexual dysfunction following MI is presented, treatment implications from the model are discussed, and a treatment program with specific interventions is discussed. Extensions of the conceptual model and treatment outline result in a format for feasible "preventative" therapy implemented immediately following the cardiac event. Emphasis is placed on the systemic etiology and effects of sexual dysfunction.

Erectile Dysfunction↗

PubMed1980

Retarded ejaculation reconceptualization and implications for treatment.

Retarded ejaculation, RE, has received little attention in the past; however with greater sexual awareness, therapists may find a significant increase in requests for help with this dysfunction. A major concern of this paper is that RE has been too narrowly defined. Additional problems in previous literature include conceptual confusion, poorly defined criteria, vague descriptors, and methodological problems. Incidence, definitions and categorizations are followed by a look at etiology, assessment, and treatment results. The present article broadens the definition of RE, presents psychophysiological stimulation deprivation as a generally overlooked cause, and offers a thorough bibliography for reference purposes.

Desensitization, Psychologic↗

PubMed1979

Circumplex model of marital and family system: I. Cohesion and adaptability dimensions, family types, and clinical applications.

The conceptual clustering of numerous concepts from family therapy and other social science fields reveals two significant dimensions of family behavior, cohesion and adaptability. These two dimensions are placed into a circumplex model that is used to identify 16 types of marital and family systems. The model proposes that a balanced level of both cohesion and adaptability is the most functional to marital and family development. It postulates the need for a balance on the cohesion dimension between too much closeness (which leads to enmeshed systems) and too little closeness (which leads to disengaged systems). There also needs to be a balance on the adaptability dimension between too much change (which leads to chaotic systems) and too little change (which leads to rigid systems). The model was developed as a tool for clinical diagnosis and for specifying treatment goals with couples and families.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1978

Extramarital sexuality: implications for marital therapists.

Although large numbers of clients approach marital therapists with concerns about extramarital behavior (ES), little has been written specifically about the implications of ES for practitioners. This paper uses a script theory framework to suggest why there are important attitude-behavior discrepancies concerning ES and how these differences may affect therapy. The authors also examine research findings concerning ES which do not support some widely held beliefs. This discussion includes a list of seven factors which therapist may utilize to differentiate diverse ES experiences and help couples clarify their values and intentions. Several case examples illustrate this process. Attention is also paid to the therapist's own values about ES and how they may affect therapy. ES emerges as a very complex phenomenon which requires a high degree of knowledge, sensitivity, and recognition of individual differences on the part of therapists.

Attitude↗