Abstract
In Gottman Couple Therapy (GCT), the intervention of Dreams-within-Conflict (DWC) helps break down a gridlocked issue between couples through deeper emotional expression and experiencing (in-counseling exploration of emotions). The current study examined experiencing in a single session of DWC for N = 30 individuals (15 couples) using multiple methods such as self-assessment questionnaires, observation rating and coding of the video recording, and feedback interviews. The before and during DWC best experiencing video segments were selected and rated by two raters independently on the experiencing scale (ES) for partners. The changes in experiencing mode and peak scores (ESM and ESP) during DWC were investigated in the presence of individual characteristics of attachment (anxiety and avoidance) and relationship mindfulness traits. A paired-samples t-test showed a significant increase in experiencing for both partners. Hierarchical linear modeling analysis indicated that gender (women) significantly and positively predicted ESM. ESP was predicted positively by gender (women) and negatively by avoidance, though the results were not conclusive. Thematic analysis was used to look at the Indian couples' experiencing as shared by them in order to better grasp the therapeutic implications. The qualitative findings confirm the quantitative results that couples outside of intervention utilized experiencing levels 1–3 predominantly and moved to 3–4 levels during best experiencing segments of intervention. Couples reviewed positively to the emotional experiencing techniques used during the DWC intervention.
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Data Availability
Since the dataset from the current study includes private information, including video recordings from therapy sessions, it is not publicly available. To replicate the analysis, the raw score data can be provided upon request.
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Dr. Joseph Varghese and Dr. Tony Sam George, Christ (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, India, and Dr. John Gottman, Dr. Julie Gottman, and Dr. Carrie Cole, Gottman Institute, Seattle, USA for their valuable mentoring.
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JR is a counselling psychologist and couple therapy practitioner in Smiles N More clinic in Bengaluru, India. She is a certified Gottman couple therapist, trained in client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy skills, transactional analysis, and mindfulness. She believes in a client-based approach that respects the client's needs and goals. VM is a couple therapy practitioner and former Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Christ (Deemed to be) University, Bengaluru, India. She is a trained marital and family therapist with expertise in couple sex therapy and emotion focused therapy. Her expertise involves working with non-physical forms of intimate partner violence and parental alienation.
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Rajendrakumar, J., Manjula, V. A Mixed-Methods Study on Experiencing in Indian Couples During Gottman's Intervention of Dreams-Within-Conflict. Contemp Fam Ther (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-023-09691-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-023-09691-8