Browsing by Subject "Divorced women"
Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item A case study of a therapy group for divorced women framed by attachment theory, feminist thought, and a collaborative language systems approach to therapy and practice(Texas Tech University, 2001-05) Kimball, Thomas G.In 1997, two therapists in their doctoral program began a divorced women's group at a Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic. This group of women suffered from emotional trauma related to their experience of divorce. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore how both women and therapists experienced this women's group that dealt with divorce issues. This qualitative case study incorporating ethnographic and phenomenological components was framed by attachment theory, feminist theory (as it applies to therapy), and a collaborative language systems approach to therapy. Within the case study, the researcher investigated emergent patterns from three different perspectives including the women and therapists' experiences of the group processes and their individual experiences within the context of the group. For the initial investigation of group processes, the researcher interviewed two focus groups (three women and four therapists), as well as intensely reviewed videotaped sessions (twelve hours of transition times in the group). Additional tape segments were also viewed by the principle investigator in order to find segments that represented sessions across the life of the group (approximately ten hours of additional therapy). Also, the researcher conducted individual interviews with all of the therapist participants (n=6) and the women participants (n=6). All qualitative data (selected videotaped group sessions, focus group interviews, and individual interviews) were transcribed and analyzed according to the guidelines outlined by Spradley's (1979, 1980) Developmental Research Sequence (DRS). The overall positive experience of the group, the group as a safe place, the collaborative process of the group, and the gender-split of the therapists as important were identified as emerging themes. From an analysis of the group process themes that emerged were the group as a powerful and positive experience, the group as a safe haven, the group's collaborative process, and the benefit of having a gender-split among therapists. Furthermore, the women and therapists identified a number of categories about their individual experiences in the group. They included: the overall positive experience of the participants, group therapy compared to individual therapy, the implications of this group being conducted in a MFT training program, reflections on gender, a male participant entering the group, the termination of the group, and the impact of the researcher as the interviewer. The concluding chapter presents a discussion on how the study's significant themes relate to the predominant theories that were used to frame the study. These theories include: attachment theory, group therapy, feminist ideology, and collaborative language system (CLS). Additionally, implication for using this type of group therapy as an educational instrument in a marriage and family therapy (MFT) programs is addressed by the researcher. Clinical implications, the limitations of the study and the need for future research conclude the document.Item A follow-up study of a skills training approach to postdivorce adjustment(Texas Tech University, 1979-08) Goethal, Kurt GordonNot availableItem Divorce and the faith community: some experiences of women(Texas Tech University, 2003-12) Christensen, Faline BatemanWomen of faith who divorce are very likely to turn for support to their community of faith. Generally, mental health providers who offer services to divorcing or divorced women are seldom knowledgeable about their relationships, whether positive or negative, with social institutions such as churches. This dissertation is a qualitative study using phenomenological and feminist approaches to explore and describe the experiences of divorced women who consider themselves to be part of faith communities. Participants responded to an invitation to complete an open-ended questionnaire on the Internet. Issues pertinent to qualitative research on the Internet are addressed. Respondents were asked to tell about their relationship with their faith community, to tell their divorce story, and to tell what it means to be a divorced woman in their faith community. Findings indicate that women's beliefs and expectations about marriage, divorce, and deity influenced the timing and process of making the decision to divorce. In addition, the process of the divorce decision led to unexpected changes in women's beliefs about themselves, their ex-spouses, their families, and their faith communities. Precipitants of divorce were also found to have an influence on the responses of the faith community, its leaders, and family members to the women's divorce decision. A change in the way divorced women of faith are perceived is proposed, to role models and wise women. Practices and interventions, with specific attention to psychotherapy and counseling, which were identified by the respondents, along with specific suggestions for improvement, are discussed.Item Facilitating postdivorce adjustment through communication skill training(Texas Tech University, 1979-08) Thiessen, Jake DThe purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of communication skills training on adjustment to divorce and separation. Divorcees were assigned to either the experimental group (N=13) or the control group (N=15). Divorcees in the experimental group received 15 hours of training in interpersonal communication skills along with didactic information regarding various aspects of the postdivorce and adjustment process. Divorcees in the control group received no treatment. Results indicated that the experimental group, relative to the control group, significantly increased in overall divorce adjustment and in empathy skill. Although the experimental group, relative to the control group, showed some increase in self esteem, the results were not conclusive. No significant differences were found between the experimental group and the control group in either perceived social support or self-disclosure skill. Discussion centered on the advantages of structured skills training as a strategy for intervention in the postdivorce adjustment process.