Search

In this article, we aim to introduce the special JMFT section on discursive research methodologies for couple and family therapy research. These are qualitative research methodologies which resonate with the systemic emphasis on the semantics and the pragmatics of therapy discourse. First, we provide a brief overview of such methodologies and their use in the family therapy field. We then introduce the context and the content of the special section, where four approaches, including conversation analysis, discursive psychology type of discourse analysis, poststructurally informed discourse analysis (subject positioning analysis), and semantic analysis, are introduced by means of analyzed extracts from a Tom Andersen consultation session with a couple in distress and their therapist. We conclude with implications for the field. For Tom and Michael.

Publication about family therapy and family therapy research has changed a great deal since the early days of couple and family therapy. This chapter will speak to several key aspects of publication today, presenting three of the most prominent family therapy journals: Family Process (United States; editor: Jay Lebow), Journal of Family Therapy (United Kingdom; Reenee Singh, outgoing editor; Philip Messent, present editor), and the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy (editor: Glenn Larner). The editors-in-chief describe background and history of the journals, trends and areas of publications, relation between research and practice, reviewing processes, and challenges for authors.

This paper outlines the development of pan European systemic thinking and practice. This development has been enabled and supported with the establishment of the European Family Therapy Association (EFTA). EFTA has evolved over the last decade from an organisation of individual members to an organisation of organisations—representing also national associations of family therapy and family therapy training institutes across 28 European countries. There are three sections to this paper: (1) a brief summary of the development of family therapy practice in Europe; (2) a brief summary of the work of the national associations of family therapy in EFTA; and (3) a brief summary of current concerns of some senior family therapists and family therapy trainers within the EFTA organisation.

In this chapter, my aim is to introduce a qualitative research method named Objective Hermeneutics into psychotherapy research. First, an outline of my theoretical background is given. Then the main principles of the method are presented. By carrying out a step-by-step sequential analysis of a short interaction between Victoria and Alfonso during the first therapy session, the application of Objective Hermeneutics in systemic research is shown. This microanalysis is subsequently embedded into the therapy process. The chapter ends with a discussion and conclusions for couple and family therapy practice and research.

Although there is an increased interest in looking at psychotherapy in terms of discourse, narrative and dialogue, most psychotherapy research is still quantitative and psychotherapy research in the field of marital and family therapy (MFT) is rather scarce. While qualitative research (QR) is appreciated in the fields of sociology, pedagogy and anthropology, for instance, in the fields of clinical psychology and psychotherapy it has just started to be accepted as a valid kind of research.

EFTA is a unique organisation which brings together in its three chambers the leading national family therapy organisations of each of around 30 European countries (with more than 50,000 family therapists throughout Europe), 125 of the training institutes of around 30 countries and 1100 individual member practitioners of high standing (2016). It works politically to support the profession and practice of family therapy throughout Europe and has a collaborative relationship with a number of like-minded organisations all over the world.

In this final chapter we use the inspiration from the 12 chapters to suggest five areas in which we see family therapy and systemic practice developing. We juxtapose a selection of material from the reports of original developments in our chapters under these headings to draw out the connections between them. The headings are: The political context of our work; Developments in family therapy theories; Novel practices in therapy and training; Developments within systemic theory and practice; and Wider resources and contexts of application. While the material drawn from this book illustrates the current liveliness of systemic couple and family therapy thinking and practice, the sections progressively point to wider resources that could be a foundation for future originality.