Modified grounded theory method was utilized to explore the process of how clinicians defined and chose to respond to challenging issues in systemic therapy. Defining an issue as challenging was determined by negotiating internal and external cues and “bringing it forward” and “slowing the pace” emerged as key themes in responding to challenging issues. Clinicians appeared to focus on in-session relational process over content, attending to internal aspects of themselves and their interaction with clients and then negotiating those aspects of awareness with their clients. Practice implications are focused on supervision and helping postgraduate clinicians move toward the developmental stage of experienced professionals.
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. (2004). Marriage and family therapy core competencies. Alexandria, VA: Author.
2.
ÆgisdóttirS.WhiteM. J.SpenglerP. M.MaughermanA. S.AndersonL. A.CookR. S.…RushJ. D. (2006). The meta-analysis of clinical judgment project: Fifty-six years of accumulated research on clinical versus statistical prediction. The Counseling Psychologist, 34, 341–382. doi:10.1177/0011000006286696
3.
BeaudoinM. (2008). Therapeutic movement and stuckness in family therapy. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 27, 76–91.
4.
BlowA. J.SprenkleD. H.DavisS. D. (2007). Is who delivers the treatment more important than the treatment itself? The role of the therapist in common factors. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 33, 298–317. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2007.00029.x
5.
BowenM. (1978). Family therapy in clinical practice. New York, NY: Jason Aronson.
6.
CharlésL. L.ThomasD.ThorntonM. L. (2005). Overcoming bias toward same-sex couples: A case study from inside an ethics classroom. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 31, 239–250. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2005.tb01566.x
7.
CharlésL. L.Ticheli-KallikasM.TynerK.Barber-StephensB. (2005). Crisis management during “live” supervision: Clinical and instructional matter. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 31, 207–219. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2005.tb01564.x
ChristensenA.DossB. D.AtkinsD. C. (2005). A science of couple therapy: For what should we seek empirical support? In PinsofW. M.LebowJ. (Eds.), Family psychology: The art of the science (pp. 43–64). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
10.
ChwaliszK. (2006). Statistical versus clinical prediction: From assessment to psychotherapy process and outcome. The Counseling Psychologist, 34, 391–399. doi:10.1177/0011000005285878
11.
ClarkW. M.JankowskiP. J.MargeeSpringerN. S. (2000). Searching for a fit: Utilizing a co-research team as a qualitative method of analysis. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 19, 56–64.
12.
CorbinJ.StraussA. (2008). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
13.
CraneD. R.WamplerK. S.SprenkleD. H.SandbergJ. G.HovestadtA. J. (2002). The scientist–practitioner model in marriage and family therapy doctoral programs: Current status. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 28, 75–83. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2002.tb01175.x
14.
DiamondG.LiddleH. A. (1996). Resolving a therapeutic impasse between parents and adolescents in Multidimensional Family Therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 481–488.
15.
FeinauerL.PistoriusK.ErwinB.AlonzoA. (2006). Twelve-year review of major family therapy journals: Topic areas, authors’ characteristics and publishing institutions. American Journal of Family Therapy, 34, 105–118. doi:10.1080/01926180500357784
16.
FriedlanderM. L.LeeH.-H.ShafferK. S.CabreraP. (2013). Negotiating therapeutic alliances with a family at impasse: An evidence-based case study. Psychotherapy, 51, 41–52. doi:10.1037/a0032524
17.
GarbH. N. (2005). Clinical judgment and decision making. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 1, 67–89. doi:10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.1.102803.143810
18.
HarvieG.StrongT.TaylorL.ToddN.YoungF. (2008). Turning points in therapy: Discursive analyses and therapist comments. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 27, 33–49. doi:10.1521/jsyt.2008.27.2.33
19.
HeatheringtonL.FriedlanderM. L.GreenbergL. (2005). Change process research in couple and family therapy: Methodological challenges and opportunities. Journal of Family Psychology, 19, 18–27. doi:10.1037/0893-3200.19.1.18
20.
HeatheringtonL.FriedlanderM. L.EscuderoV. (2013). Managing negative reactions to clients in conjoint therapy: It’s not all in the family. In WolfA. W.GoldfriedM. R.MuranJ. (Eds.), Transforming negative reactions to clients: From frustration to compassion (pp. 113–137). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/13940-005
21.
HenggelerS. W.SheidowA. J. (2003). Conduct disorder and delinquency. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 29, 505–522. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2003.tb01692.x
22.
HermansH. J.KempenH. J.Van LoonR. J. (1992). The dialogical self: Beyond individualism and rationalism. American Psychologist, 47, 23–33. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.47.1.23
23.
HernándezP.RankinP. (2008). Relational safety and liberating training spaces: An application with a focus on sexual orientation issues. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 34, 251–264. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2008.00067.x
24.
HoffmanL. (1985). Beyond power and control: Toward a “second order” family systems therapy. Family Systems Medicine, 3, 381–396. doi:10.1037/h0089674
25.
IveyD. C.ScheelM. J.JankowskiP. J. (1999). A contextual perspective of clinical judgement in couples and family therapy: Is the bridge too far?Journal of Family Therapy, 21, 339–359. doi:10.1111/1467-6427.00124
26.
JankowskiP. J.IveyD. C. (2001). Problem definition in marital and family therapy: A qualitative study. Contemporary Family Therapy, 23, 419–439. doi:10.1023/A:1013001012043
27.
JankowskiP. J.IveyD. C.VaughnM. J. (2012). Re-visioning a model of clinical judgment for systemic practitioners. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 31, 17–35. doi:10.1521/jsyt.2012.31.3.17
28.
KaslowN. J.CelanoM. P.StantonM. (2005). Training in family psychology: A competencies-based approach. Family Process, 44, 337–353. doi:10.1111/j.1545-5300.2005.00063.x
29.
KeeneyH.KeeneyB. (2013). What is systemic about systemic therapy? Therapy models muddle embodied systemic practice. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 31, 22–37. doi:10.1521/jsyt.2012.31.1.22
30.
KoltzR. L.OdegardM. A.FeitS. S.ProvostK.SmithT. (2012). Parallel process and isomorphism: A model for decision making in the supervisory triad. The Family Journal, 20, 233–238. doi:10.1177/1066480712448788
31.
LambertN. M.DollahiteD. C. (2006). How religiosity helps couples prevent, resolve, and overcome marital conflict. Family Relations, 55, 439–449. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2006.00413.x
32.
LichtenbergJ. W. (2009). Effects of experience on judgment accuracy. The Counseling Psychologist, 37, 410–415. doi:10.1177/0011000008330829
33.
LizzioA.WilsonK.QueJ. (2009). Relationship dimensions in the professional supervision of psychology graduates: Supervisee perceptions of processes and outcome. Studies in Continuing Education, 31, 127–140. doi:10.1080/01580370902927451
34.
LoweR. (2000). Supervising self-supervision: Constructive inquiry and embedded narratives in case consultation. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 26, 511–521. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2000.tb00320.x
35.
MarcumJ. A. (2012). Integrated model of clinical reasoning: Dual-process theory of cognition and metacognition. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 18, 854–961. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2753.2012.01900.x
36.
MehrK. E.LadanyN.CaskieG. L. (2010). Trainee nondisclosure in supervision: What are they not telling you?Counselling & Psychotherapy Research, 10, 103–113. doi:10.1080/14733141003712301
37.
NelsonT. S.ChenailR. J.AlexanderJ. F.CraneD. R.JohnsonS. M.SchwaillieL. (2007). The development of core competencies for the practice of marriage and family therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 33, 417–438. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2007.00042.x
38.
NelsonT. S.GravesT. (2011). Core competencies in advanced training: What supervisors say about graduate training. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 37, 429–451. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2010.00216.x
39.
NuttR. L.StantonM. (2011). Family psychology specialty practice. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 1, 92–105. doi:10.1037/2160-4096.1.S.91
40.
RidleyC. R.Shaw-RidleyM. (2009). Clinical judgment accuracy: From meta-analysis to metatheory. The Counseling Psychologist, 37, 400–409. doi:10.1177/0011000008330830
41.
RoberP. (1999). The therapist’s inner conversation: Some ideas about the self of the therapist, therapeutic impasse and the process of reflection. Family Process, 38, 209–228.
42.
RoberP.ElliottR.BuysseA.LootsG.De CorteK. (2008a). Positioning in the therapist’s inner conversation: A dialogical model based on a grounded theory analysis of therapist reflections. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 34, 406–421. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2008.00080.x
43.
RoberP.ElliottR.BuysseA.LootsG.De CorteK. (2008b). What’s on the therapist’s mind? A grounded theory analysis of family therapist reflections during individual therapy sessions. Psychotherapy Research, 18, 48–57. doi:10.1080/10503300701324183
44.
RonnestadM. H.SkovholtT. M. (2003). The journey of the counselor and therapist: Research findings and perspectives on professional development. Journal of Career Development, 30, 5–44. doi:10.1023/A:1025173508081
45.
RutterP. A.LeechN. N.AndersonM.SaundersD. (2010). Couples counseling for a transgender–lesbian couple: Student counselors’ comfort and discomfort with sexuality counseling topics. Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 6, 68–79. doi:10.1080/15504280903472816
46.
SchwartzR. (1997, March/April). Don't look back. Family Therapy Networker, 40–45.
47.
SprenkleD. H. (2002). Effectiveness research in marriage and family therapy. Alexandria, VA: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
48.
SprenkleD. H. (Ed.) (2010). The present and future of MFT doctoral education in research-focused universities. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 36, 270–281.
49.
StantonM.WelshR. (2011). Specialty competencies in couple and family psychology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
50.
StrongT.ZemanD.FoskettA. (2006). Introducing new discourses into counseling interactions: A microanalytic and retrospective examination. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 19, 67–89. doi:10.1080/10720530500311190
51.
VaughnM. J. (2004). Creating “maneuvering room:” A grounded theory of language and influence in marriage and family therapy. Contemporary Family Therapy, 26, 452–442. doi:10.1007/s10591-004-0645-6
52.
WamplerK. S. (2010). Challenge and urgency in defining doctoral education in marriage and family therapy: Valuing complementary models. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 36, 291–306.
53.
WampoldB. E. (2001). The great psychotherapy debate: Models, methods, and findings. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
WeirK. N. (2009). Countering the isomorphic study of isomorphism: Coercive, mimetic, and normative isomorphic trends in the training, supervision, and industry of marriage and family therapy. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 20, 60–71. doi:10.1080/08975350802716517
56.
WhiteM. B.RussellC. S. (1997). Examining the multifaceted notion of isomorphism in marriage and family therapy supervision: A quest for conceptual clarity. Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, 23, 315–333. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.1997.tb01040.x
57.
WinterJ.AponteH. J. (1987). The person and practice of the therapist: Treatment and training. Journal of Psychotherapy & the Family, 3, 85–111. doi:10.1300/J287v03n01_10
58.
WoolleyS. R. (2010). Purposes, diversities, and futures in MFT doctoral education. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 36(3), 282–290.
