The Feminist Couple Therapy Scale: A Measure of Therapists' Ability to Promote Equality in Couple Relationships

Abstract

This study sought to establish the reliability and validity of the Feminist Couple Therapy Scale (FaCTS) and assess the degree to which couple and family therapists agreed with principles and utilized practices associated with promoting equality in heterosexual couple relationships; 89 participants completed the survey developed for this study. The FaCTS appears to demonstrate good internal reliability (a = 0.96) and construct validity. While participants reported frequent use of some feminist practices associated with promoting equality, participants were less likely to endorse items directly related to addressing patriarchy, male privilege, and gender based power imbalances.

Why Power Matters: Creating a Foundation of Mutual Support in Couple Relationships

“…Yet research (e.g., Coontz, ; Gerson, ; Knudson‐Martin & Mahoney, ) shows that few couples actually attain this ideal. Surprisingly, this discrepancy is seldom addressed in couple therapy (McGeorge & Carlson, ).…”

The Impact of Therapist Actions on the Balance of Power Within the Couple System: A Qualitative Analysis of Therapy Sessions

“…Looking at ability to influence the other is particularly important (Gottman, Coan, Carrere, & Swanson, 1998). Several guides for assessing power in couple relationships are available (Haddock et al, 2000;Knudson-Martin, 2009;McGeorge & Carlson, 2009 3. Intentionally position therapist actions in relation to power balance of couple.…”

“…Identifying power processes is thus an important clinical issue (Haddock, Zimmerman, & MacPhee, 2000;McGeorge & Carlson, 2009). This includes looking at not only the couple dynamics but also at the greater social context where messages regarding gendered roles, personal entitlement, and Therapist Impact on Couple's Power Balance 223 expectations regarding relationship responsibility are all provided to the couple (McGoldrick, 2011;Silverstein & Goodrich, 2003).…”

Competencies for Addressing Gender and Power in Couple Therapy: A Socio Emotional Approach

“…Second, the desire to apply a larger-context lens moves therapists to track how societal processes are playing out in their clients' lives and in the moment by moment of couple therapy (McGeorge et al, 2009). At this stage of development, therapists begin to see the unique consequences of gender and power dynamics for their particular clients (Knudson-Martin & Huenergardt, 2010).…”

“…Power dynamics between heterosexual partners continue to generate typified responses that partners frequently do not intend, are hard to notice, and have detrimental effects on couple relationships and the health and well‐being of both women and men (Knudson‐Martin, ; Knudson‐Martin & Mahoney, ; Loscocco & Walzer, ). Clinical competencies for couple therapists must thus include interventions that help couples transform limiting gender stereotypes and gendered power dynamics (McGeorge, Carlson, & Guttormson, ; Ward & Knudson‐Martin, ).…”