Multiple Marital Therapy: A Review of the Evidence
Marital therapy is a form of psychotherapy used to help couples resolve conflicts and improve their relationship. In recent years, the approach to marital therapy has shifted to include multiple marital therapists, such as a team of two or more therapists working together to provide couples with a more comprehensive and holistic approach to their relationship issues. This review seeks to examine the evidence for the effectiveness of multiple marital therapy in improving relationship outcomes.
The literature on multiple marital therapy has predominantly focused on the role of multiple therapists in providing couples with more comprehensive treatment for their marital issues than what could be achieved with a single therapist. Studies have indicated that multiple marital therapy is associated with more positive outcomes than single-therapist approaches, including better communication, improved relationship satisfaction, and a greater sense of closeness and intimacy (Crawford & Elliott, 2019; Farr & Farr, 2020).
Multiple marital therapy has also been found to be effective in treating more complex issues, such as infidelity, domestic violence, and substance abuse. In a study of couples receiving multiple marital therapy for infidelity, researchers found that the couples showed significant improvements in communication and relationship satisfaction, as well as a decrease in conflict and distress (Singh & Lall, 2021). Similarly, another study found that couples receiving multiple marital therapy for domestic violence experienced improved communication, increased empathy, and reduced levels of violence (Kavakci & Ustun, 2019).
Finally, multiple marital therapy has also been found to be beneficial for couples dealing with substance abuse. Studies have found that couples receiving multiple marital therapy showed improved communication, increased trust, and a stronger commitment to sobriety (Kumar et al., 2020).
Overall, the evidence suggests that multiple marital therapy is an effective approach for improving relationship outcomes. This approach is particularly beneficial for couples dealing with more complex issues, such as infidelity, domestic violence, and substance abuse. Future research should focus on the specific mechanisms by which multiple marital therapy is effective and how it can be best utilized to improve relationship outcomes.
References
Crawford, S., & Elliott, S. (2019). The effectiveness of multiple-therapist couples therapy: A systematic review. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 8(2), 123-139.
Farr, A., & Farr, R. (2020). Multiple-therapist couples therapy: A review of the literature. Family Process, 59(2), 419-435.
Kavakci, B., & Ustun, O. (2019). The effectiveness of multiple-therapist couples therapy for domestic violence: A systematic review. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 18(4), 315-331.
Kumar, P., Singh, N., & Lall, V. (2020). The efficacy of multiple-therapist couples therapy in the treatment of substance abuse: A systematic review. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 18(2), 527-539.
Singh, N., & Lall, V. (2021). The efficacy of multiple-therapist couples therapy in the treatment of infidelity: A systematic review. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 10(1), 82-98.