Client Perceptions of Couples Therapy: Helpful and Unhelpful Aspects

This article describes a qualitative study that investigated client perceptions of helpful and unhelpful aspects of couples therapy. A thematic analysis of interviews revealed among other themes, that couple participants associated helpful therapy experiences with (a) being given choices regarding ideas and ways of working that fit for them, (b) working with a therapist they trusted, and (c) developing new ideas about the couple relationship. Implications of this study for future research, practice, and training are described.