This study investigated the relationship between culture, structural aspects of the nuclear and extended family, and functional aspects of the family, that is, emotional distance, social interaction, and communication, as well as geographical proximity. The focus was on the functional aspects of family, defined as members of the nuclear family (mother, father, and their children) and the extended family (grandmother/grandfather, aunt/uncle, cousins). Sixteen cultures participated in this study, with a total number of 2587 participants. The first hypothesis, that the pattern of scores on the psychological measures and the behavioral outcomes are similar across cultures, an indication of cultural universality, was supported. The second hypothesis, that functional relations between members of the nuclear family and their kin are maintained in high‐affluent and low‐affluent cultures, and that differences in functional relationships in high‐ and low‐affluent cultures are a matter of degree, was also supported by the findings. The results suggest that it is less meaningful in cross‐cultural family studies to ask questions about the structure of the family, than to ask about the functional relationships between members of the nuclear family and their kin. In looking only at the nuclear family, one focuses only on those residing in the household, but ignores those important members of the extended family who may reside nearby and their significant relationships with the members of the nuclear family.

Promoting self‐narrative coherence is seen in this paper as one of the key tasks in therapy. In our narrative study, we attempted to form specific coding criteria for assessing coherence based on the intelligibility of ‘life stories’. Thirty clients (‘graduates’ and beginners) in family‐oriented group therapy took part. We conducted an informal autobiographical interview and asked clients to write a self‐description. Our qualitative analysis focused mainly on narrative form. We created a coding system of four coding criteria, ‘acknowledging/explaining contradictions’, ‘thinking in a relational manner’, ‘acknowledging/responding to the needs of the audience’, and ‘being in touch with emotions’. The latter criterion was further explored and a secondary coding system developed for the emotional assessment of narratives. Two case studies are used as exemplars. The variations as to the degree of self‐narrative incoherence are discussed. Proposals are made for using the four coding criteria as a ‘subjective’ assessment tool for monitoring therapy progress.

Relevant literature has explored the issue of disclosure of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual (LGB) therapists to heterosexual or LGB clients. But how do homosexual or bisexual clients understand and experience their therapist’s heterosexual orientation, known or assumed, in relation to the therapeutic alliance and the therapeutic process? In this qualitative study, we used the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to examine eight semi-structured interviews with LGB clients in a family-oriented therapy in Greece. Analysis revealed two themes of higher order, each having three subordinate themes depicting the client’s experience of the therapist’s sexual orientation: 1. Focus on the therapist’s sexual orientation: (a) as a hypothesis (b) as a factor of acceptance (c) as a factor of professional capability and 2. Focus on other therapist features: (a) gender (b) personality traits (c) practice of professional role. The therapist’s sexual orientation or the one perceived by the client was not a neutral issue in therapy and the cultivation of the therapeutic relationship but was only one part of the process. The way all these issues were processed and approached by clients was related to their personal history and phase of therapy. Suggestions for future research include conducting a research on clients from different therapeutic perspectives since it was carried out only on participants in long-term systemic family therapy.

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The therapeutic relationship has been highlighted as a major mechanism of therapeutic change in current literature. Existing research has focused on certain qualities of the therapist, such as empathy, acceptance and authenticity, as well as of the client, such as the quality of their interpersonal relationships and their expectations, which enhance the therapeutic alliance. Less is known about the importance of the therapeutic relationship in long-term systemic group therapy. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with clients who had completed long-term group therapy following an enriched systemic approach SANE - System Attachment Narrative Encephalon®. Participants were invited to talk about their personal experience of group therapy 2-8 years after its completion. Three higher order themes and six subthemes emerged related to the therapeutic relationship. The higher order themes are: (1) the role of the therapist; (2) the function of the therapist; (3) the qualities of the therapist. The subthemes are: 1.a) the therapist as a source of safety; 1.b) the therapist as a parental role model; 2.a) the expression of the therapist’s feelings; 2.b) the client’s transition from dependency to autonomy; 3.a) the therapist’s personality traits; 3.b) the therapist’s professional role fulfillment. The study aims to contribute to the bibliography of process research of long term group therapy from the clients’ perspective, in order to clarify the parameters of the therapeutic relationship the clients consider more important and helpful.