Deciding Not to Un-Do the "I Do:" Therapy Experiences of Women Who Consider Divorce But Decide to Remain Married.

Publisher: Blackwell Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 7904614 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1752-0606 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 0194472X NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Marital Fam Ther Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: <2007->: Malden, Mass. : Blackwell
Original Publication: Washington, D.C., American Assn. for Marriage and Family Therapy

Divorce* ; Marital Therapy* ; Spouses*; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Qualitative Research

This study explores women's experience of marital therapy while they navigated decision making around divorce. A qualitative method was used to gain a deeper understanding of the participants' therapy and relationship decision-making experiences. How are women's decisions whether or not to exit their marriage affected by therapy? The researchers interviewed 15 women who had considered initiating divorce before they turned 40 and had attended at least five marital therapy sessions but ultimately decided not to divorce. In general, participants reported that the therapy was helpful to them, their decision-making process and their marriages. Five main themes emerged from the interviews: Women Initiated Therapy, Therapist Was Experienced as Unbiased, Therapy was Helpful, Importance of Extra-therapeutic Factors, and Gradual Process.
(© 2014 American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.)

Date Created: 20140118 Date Completed: 20160411 Latest Revision: 20150716

20231215

10.1111/jmft.12064

24433499