Qualitative Studies in Family Therapy

Fifteen women and their partners who had completed a couples therapy component of a drug treatment program were interviewed to ascertain their views about couples therapy. Three broad questions guided the interviews: (1) What did these women, and their partners, feel had been helpful to them during couples therapy? (2) What barriers did they feel existed that make it hard for women to enter or remain in drug treatment? and (3) What advice would they offer therapists about improving treatment for women? The themes that emerged from the interviews in response to each of the questions are described.