Abstract

ULLOA, Valentina; PUERTA, Sofía de la  and  FOSSA, Pablo. Sociocultural differences within couple’s therapy: the perspective of therapists and consultant couples. Psicol. clin. [online]. 2017, vol.29, n.2, pp. 209-228. ISSN 0103-5665.

The aim of the present study was to describe how sociocultural differences between therapists and consultant couples of different socioeconomic levels (SEL) participate in the couple’s therapeutic process. A qualitative methodology with a relational-analytic design was used. The sample consisted of nine therapists of high and middle-high SEL and five couples of low and middle-low SEL of Santiago de Chile. Semi-structured interviews were carried out and data were analyzed by the three stages of the Grounded Theory technique. Results indicate that despite the socioeconomic and sociocultural differences are not perceived as damaging for the treatment when a close bond is held, they can influence the therapists’ experiences and interventions, the therapeutic alliance and symmetry of the relationship, the couples’ evaluation of the therapist and the possibility of attrition. This mostly depends on the guidance and characteristics of the therapist. The findings become relevant for the training and practice of couple’s therapists, as well as other modalities.

Keywords : couples therapy; sociocultural differences; sociocultural competence; therapeutic alliance.

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