How couple therapists manage asymmetries of interaction in first consultations.

Abstract

The study demonstrates how asymmetries in therapists’ affiliations with spouses emerge and are addressed in couple therapy. A total of 4 video-recorded couple therapy first sessions were subjected to conversation analysis. The moment-by moment interactions that contribute to one sided affiliation, as well as the therapists’ ways of managing such asymmetry, are described in detail. Asymmetries of affiliation regularly co-occur with the exclusion of 1 spouse from the interaction. Asymmetries of affiliation and participation can be addressed by 2 types of action by the therapist: (a) In counterbalancing moves, the therapist shifts their affiliation back to the spouse that was neglected. (b) In systemic couple-directed interventions, the therapist creates symmetry of affiliation and participation not only by attending to the individual spouses but also by addressing the couple as a single social unit. The observations are discussed in the light of the concept of split alliance and alliance ruptures, as well as in the context of research into affiliation as a generic property of social interaction.

Practices of Claiming Control and Independence in Couple Therapy With Narcissism

“…), 2003 or autism (Maynard, 2005). More recently, conversation analysis has been used as a method in studies on family and couple therapy, embracing interactional patterns in the establishment (Sutherland and Strong, 2011) and ruptures and repairs (Muntigl and Horvath, 2016) of the therapeutic alliance, in circular questions (Diorinou and Tseliou, 2014), and in interactional asymmetries (Janusz et al, 2021).…”

“…To begin with, the therapist, based on his/her institutional authority, is entitled to define the conditions of talking and to ask personal questions-an asymmetry that clients with narcissistic problems can perceive as a threat of their independence. Second, the spouse can be an additional source of threat for the client's face as he/she is witnessing how he/she talks about their marital situation; he/she is also a witness of the therapist's comments and may furthermore build a temporary coalition with the therapist (Janusz et al, 2021). Third, as we have shown, a client may perceive the unrestrained topical flow of the therapeutic talk as threatening since it could lead to statements or stories revealing about his/her problems or weaknesses.…”

How therapists respond to “uneven” alliances in couple and family therapy: A conversation‐analytic study

“…From the interactional perspective that we have presented above, an “uneven” alliance is operationalized as an asymmetry of affiliation (Janusz et al, 2021). In our study, we rely on the concept of affiliation because it is more person‐oriented (supporting the participants' emotional stance) than alignment which is more action‐oriented.…”

“…In our study, we rely on the concept of affiliation because it is more person‐oriented (supporting the participants' emotional stance) than alignment which is more action‐oriented. We use the concept of asymmetry of affiliation (Janusz et al, 2021, p. 382) to refer to a recurring pattern of interaction in which a (couple/family) therapist establishes an asymmetric relation between themselves and the couple, interactionally favoring one of the spouses or one family member.…”