Jonathan Sandberg

• Brigham Young University

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples is an empirically supported approach to couple therapy, with extensive outcome and process research. The main area in which EFT needs to receive additional empirical support is cross-cultural validity. The E(f)FECTS Study (Emotionally FocusEd Couple Therapy in Spanish) is the first Randomized Clinical T...

Empirical evidence clearly demonstrates that secure attachment is linked to higher levels of relationship quality, while insecure attachment is related to lower levels. Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT, S. Johnson) is based on attachment theory and seeks to create secure attachment bonds to promote couple satisfaction. Current EFT research suggests...

The purpose of the current study was to identify specific ways Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT; S. Johnson) could be adapted to better meet the needs of clients in Spanish‐speaking countries throughout Europe and the Americas. The results were drawn from responses to a qualitative questionnaire regarding the experiences of learning and app...

Therapist factors (e.g., education, years of experience, or levels of supervision of their therapeutic practice) are strongly related to treatment success, regardless of treatment condition or modality. This study uses a multicenter randomized wait-list controlled design to examine the efficacy of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) in a Spani...

Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) is an empirically validated couples therapy model proven to improve relationship quality (Beasley and Ager 2019; Wiebe and Johnson 2016; Wood et al. 2005). This model, in addition to being effective in intervening at the relational level, also seems to have the potential to have a positive impact on other areas rel...

Background: Couple relationship distress is common and associated with poor physical, psychological, relational outcomes for both partners. Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples (EFT) is a short-term structured approach based on attachment theory that integrates a humanistic, experiential approach to restructuring emotional experience and a syste...

Literature reviews have concluded that People of Color are underrepresented in psychological literature; however, the fields of counseling and counseling psychology have taken a clear affirmative stance with respect to human diversity. This study sought to evaluate the representation of People of Color in four key journals across the 2000–2019 time...

Using a clinical sample of couples, this study considers the association between couples attachment levels, stability of their relationship, and severity of their presenting problems at first session. Attachment levels were established using the Brief Accessibility, Responsiveness, and Engagement (BARE) Scale. Participants were divided into tertile...

This chapter describes the foundations, theoretical relevance, and clinical applicability of attachment theory for systemic family therapists (SFTs). In additional to traditional descriptions of child and caregiver relationships, we also focus on research that highlights the utility of attachment theory when considering psychopathology and romantic...

This study investigated the association between family of origin (FOO) adversities and relationship quality for Pacific Islanders as well as the potential intermediary role of coming to terms (CTT), depression, and self-esteem. The sample consisted of 226 self-identified Pacific Islanders who completed the RELATE assessment (see www.relate-institut...

Because adverse childhood and family of origin experiences may have implications for adult relationships, the current study was designed to understand the associations between childhood family of origin adversities, and adult romantic relationship quality for individual African Americans in relationships (N = 1286) considering the potential interme...

This chapter describes the foundations, theoretical relevance, and clinical applicability of attachment theory for systemic family therapists (SFTs). In additional to traditional descriptions of child and caregiver relationships, we also focus on research that highlights the utility of attachment theory when considering psychopathology and romantic...

The degree of approval for a relationship from one's social network has been shown to predict relationship outcomes. Additional research has shown that attachment can buffer the negative effects of various factors (e.g., depression) on relationships. Using an actor-partner interdependence model in an SEM framework, we research the effects of disapp...

This study seeks to validate the cross-cultural effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) training in a sample of Spanish-speaking clinicians. The 28-hour formalized training for EFT was offered in six different Spanish-speaking countries, covering Europe, North America, Central America, and South America. Two hundred and seven ther...

As the Latino/a population increases externalizing behaviors among adolescents continue to concern researchers and clinicians. National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) data were used to analyze direct and indirect effects of parenting and academic factors on externalizing behavior among Latino/a adolescents over time, using lat...

Objective Weight change may be affected by dyadic processes within couple relationships. The aim of this secondary data analysis was to explore trends in BMI across time, and assess whether relationship processes (i.e., relationship satisfaction, positive problem-solving), predict BMI trajectories in men and women. Methods Data are from 268 partic...

Decades of research have shown that depression can have deleterious effects on couple relationships. Emotionally-focused therapy (EFT; Johnson, 2004 Johnson, S. M. (2004). The practice of emotionally focused couple therapy: Creating connection. East Sussex, UK: Brunner-Routledge. [Google Scholar]) is an empirically validated form of couple therapy,...

The current study uses a sample of married couples (N = 1718) to investigate the relationship between conflict styles and relationship quality as moderated by attachment behaviors. Results indicated that husbands’ and wives’ conflict style is significantly associated with their own perception of relationship quality, with more extreme styles being...

This study used an actor-partner interdependence model to assess the relationship between differentiation of self and family functioning in a sample of 118 heterosexual Spanish couples, with additional attention to family structural correlates including child age, number of children in the household, and education level. Results showed a significan...

La Therapie centree sur l'emotion (TCE; Johnson, 2004) est l'une des approches les plus sophistiquees, ecaces, et renommees quant au traitement des relations amoureuses en detresse (Wiebe & Johnson, 2016). Le traitement dyadique de l'attachement insecurise est au coeur de cette approche. Dans le cadre d'une pratique fondee sur les donnees probantes...

This study is a multi-national follow up to the original Sandberg and Knestel (2011) article on the process of learning Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT). A total of 102 clinicians from nine Spanish-speaking countries (Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, and El Salvador) participated in the study. A co...

Aims To compare the outcomes of partners who participated in a telephone couples behavioural intervention to improve glycaemic control in persons with Type 2 diabetes with those of untreated partners of participants in an individual intervention or education; to explore ‘ripple effects’, i.e. positive behaviour changes seen in untreated partners....

We examined whether time together as a problem mediates the link between frequency of video game use and relational outcomes (relationship quality, relational aggression, physical aggression) among 431 married couples. We also examined the moderating effect of couple attachment behaviors on the association between time together as a problem and out...

Using clinically relevant research methodology, this study focuses on differences (cross-partner difference scores) in perceptions of attachment behaviors (emotional accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement) between partners in couples therapy. In general, findings suggest that higher levels of self-enhancement attachment behaviors (participan...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between relational aggression and sexual satisfaction, as well as to determine if attachment behaviors could mediate this relationship. Data came from the Relate Institute Questionnaire (RELATE) and was drawn from the matched-pair responses of 539 heterosexual married couples. Results sh...

This study sought to examine the relationship between perception of parents' marriage, marital satisfaction, and attachment behaviors. Participants included 521 married couples taken from the RELATE project. Gender differences were found between husbands and wives perception of parents' marriage and marital satisfaction. Results also indicated that...

Relationship self-regulation refers to the “work” partners put in to keep their relationships healthy. Past relationship self-regulation research has not taken into account distal variables that may affect it, such as respondents’ own and parental avoidant couple conflict-resolution styles. Using data from 4,456 people in their first marriages who...

Division of household labor is associated with marital satisfaction among Chinese populations. However, little research has compared rural and urban regions in Chinese societies, which have traditionally had significant cultural differences. This study compared the level of division of household labor and the relationship of division of household l...

Purpose The purpose of the study was to determine, through secondary analysis, whether the length of a couple’s relationship and the participants’ gender are associated with glycemic response to a type 2 diabetes (T2D) behavioral couples-based intervention. Methods A randomized trial was conducted to test the impact of a couples-level, telephone-b...

Using dyadic, clinical data from 104 couples in committed relationships, the purpose of this study was to determine whether relationship satisfaction was associated with depression through perceived partner attachment behaviors-accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement-for both men and women. We found that one's satisfaction in the relationship...

Research shows that the parent–child relationship affects attachment security, which correlates with anxiety and depression in adulthood. Additional research shows that romantic attachment behaviors may supersede individual attachment security and buffer against negative processes. Using data from 680 married couples in the general population, we e...

OBJECTIVE To compare glycemic control and secondary outcomes of a 4-month telephonic couples behavioral intervention to individual intervention, and to education, for adults with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A randomized trial with the following three arms: couples calls (CC) (n = 104); individual calls (IC) (n = 94); and diabetes...

For most adults, sleep is a dyadic behavior. Only recently have studies explored the dynamic association between sleep and relationship functioning among bed partners. The current study is the first to examine bidirectional associations between changes in insomnia and changes in marital quality over time, in the context of a marital therapy trial....

This study examined whether couple attachment behaviors, as measured by the BARE (Brief Accessibility, Responsiveness, and Engagement Scale), can mediate the influence of depressive symptoms on health for men and women. Data were gathered from the Relate Institute (www.relateinstitute.com) from 797 couples who were in a romantic relationship. Resul...

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine patterns in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) outpatient mental health services including cost and length of services, return to care rates, and dropout by the presence of commonly co-morbid mental health conditions, modality and provider type. Methodology This study is a longitudinal, retrospective stud...

Self-esteem may be associated with romantic partners' experience of emotional support and caregiving. Using a sample of 6,385 heterosexual couples in committed relationships gathered from the RELATionship Evaluation (RELATE) data set (see www.relate-institute.org), structural equation modeling was used to compare two actor–partner interdependence m...

Measuring attachment behaviors is relevant to creating secure couple relationships. This article seeks to test and examine the reliability and validity of the Brief Accessibility, Responsiveness, and Engagement (BARE) Scale-a practical measure of couple attachment-in a clinical sample. Couples took the BARE and other assessments measuring relations...

The purpose of this study was to distinguish between the influence of attachment styles and behaviors on marital quality for couples. Data were gathered from 680 couples in a married relationship. Results showed attachment style and behaviors predicted marital quality for both men and women, with higher levels of attachment related to greater quali...

This study explored how negative communication and spirituality influence relationship quality across four couple groups. Data was gathered from Anglo couples, interethnic Latino and Anglo couples, and Latino couples. Data was analyzed in a mediating Actor–Partner Interaction Model (APIM) with a multiple group analysis. Negative communication was n...

This study investigated the association between reporting the experience of childhood abuse and perceptions of safety in current adult relationships. Data from 177 couples were collected from both clinic and community samples. Results suggest that when violence is present, people who reported being abused as a child are more likely to have lower fe...

The authors examine both actor and partner effects of the use of texting on face-to-face communication behaviors in three groups: dating couples (n = 1,217), engaged couples (n = 2,167), and married couples (n = 1,336). Data were taken from the RELATE project (www.relateinstitute.org). Overall, the more an individual used texting to discuss serious...

This study used an Actor-Partner Interdependence Model to examine the relationship between attachment behaviors and health practices, as measured by physical activity levels and dietary habits. The sample included 1031 married couples, the majority of which is Caucasian (83.8%). Results suggest that women's attachment behaviors significantly influe...

The purpose of this study was to explore and compare high-fidelity and low-fidelity Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy sessions across the course of treatment. Data were taken from sessions 3, 7, and 11 from two different couples. Grounded theory was used to identify emerging themes from the data. Further, a word frequency query was performed to u...

Oxytocin is implicated in social behaviors: maternal care, social bonding, desire for physical closeness, and sexual response. Evidence suggests oxytocin may be important for stress regulation and modulate cardiovascular functioning with oxytocin as a possible pathway to the well-established links between social relationships and physical health. I...

Within the framework of the vulnerability-stress adaptation model, we created an actor partner interdependence model to assess the relationships between negative family-of-origin experiences and relationship self-regulation, a type of relationship maintenance, and the mediating potential of partner attachment behaviors. We analyzed data from 261 he...

There is substantial evidence that the therapeutic alliance is an important predictor of successful outcome in couple therapy. However, little research has addressed the predictors of the development of a strong therapeutic alliance. One possible predictor is attachment styles among the two partners because of the effect of attachment styles to inf...

Data was drawn from 15 sessions of couple's therapy where clinicians attempted to apply the EFT model. Results provide initial support for the Emotionally Focused Therapy —Therapist Fidelity Scale (EFT-TFS) as a reliable and useful measure of fidelity. In addition, results suggest the measure can discriminate effectively (95% correct classification...

The authors examined the mediating impact of couples’ attachment behaviors on the relationship between family-of-origin experiences and marital communication quality. The couple data for this study were collected from the Relationship Evaluation (RELATE) database (see www.relate-institute.org). An Actor Partner Interdependence Model using structura...

This longitudinal dyadic clinical process study used coded data from eleven couples to determine the influence of therapist warmth behaviors on couples' warmth behaviors over time in therapy. A mixed effects model was used to examine within- and between-individual variability. Men and women were modeled separately. A series of two-level multilevel...

The American Heart Association (Go et al., 2013) estimated that about 2,150 Americans die each day from cardiovascular disease (CVD). For those 65 years of age or older, the total cost of heart related services in 2009 was $121.2 billion (Go et al., 2013). Many people live with the chronic conditions of cardiovascular disease (Petersen et al., 2005...

The American Journal of Family Therapy Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the "Content") contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties wh...

This exploratory path analysis was designed to identify significant associations among technology use and relationship variables in a population of emerging adults. Two hundred seventy-six young people between the ages of 18 and 25 in committed relationships completed survey questions about ways they connect with their partners using technology. Ac...

Using a sample of married individuals employed full-time (N = 1,117), this study examined the mediating effects of constructive and destructive communication between partners on the relationship between work–family conflict and marital satisfaction. Results from structural equation modeling revealed that work–family conflict was significantly and n...

Using data from a sample of 281 couples (the Flourishing Families data set), the authors tested a systemic theoretical model that examined the relationship among observed marital interaction, physical and mental health, and work satisfaction. The results showed that negative marital interaction was associated with significantly lower work satisfact...

This study examined the relationship between perceptions of family-of-origin experiences, sexual satisfaction and marital quality. The sample consisted of 3953 married couples who responded to the relationship evaluation. The results showed that more positive overall family-of-origin experiences and parent–child relationships were related to higher...

OBJECTIVE Little is known about the psychosocial challenges of adults living with type 1 diabetes or its impact on partner relationships. This qualitative study was undertaken to gain better understanding of these issues.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Four focus groups were held, two with adult type 1 diabetic patients (n = 16) and two with partners (...

The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the impact learning emotionally focused couples therapy (EFT) has on the personal and professional lives of clinicians. One hundred twenty-four clinicians answered open-ended questions regarding changes brought about by EFT training including the integration of EFT into previous models of therap...

This article describes the purpose, reliability, validity, and potential clinical applications of the Brief Accessibility, Responsiveness, and Engagement (BARE) scale. In addition to focusing on the central attachment behaviors of accessibility and responsiveness, this instrument highlights the key role of engagement in couple bonding. The BARE is...

This study examined the relationships between childhood family of origin (FOO) adversities, coming to terms with them, and adult intimate relationship satisfaction for Native American individuals. The sample consisted of 186 self-identified Native American individuals in committed relationships. The data for this study was collected from the RELATE...

Many studies examining illness within marriage have investigated how illness in one spouse influences the other spouse. In later-life marriages, where both spouses are more likely to have health challenges, there is an increased likelihood that health symptoms from both spouses affect each other. In the current study we examined how health symptoms...

Previous research on African American clients’ participation in family therapy has concentrated on dropout rates and utilized a deficit, problem saturated perspective. Few studies have been conducted that address how African American clients overcame barriers to family therapy. The present study utilized phenomenological methodology to explore how...

The American Journal of Family Therapy Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information:page/terms-and-conditions This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribut...

This study of 535 older married couples examined the relationship between depression and health and sexual satisfaction directly and when mediated by communication. The sample included 535 older couples who completed a survey questionnaire known as Project Couple Retire. Among the items in the questionnaire were measures of depression, health, perc...

Administrative data from Cigna for 149 somatoform cases were analyzed to determine the cost, number of sessions, dropout rates, and recidivism rates. Comparisons on these outcomes were made between medical doctors, psychologists, master's nurses, master's social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors. Recidivism rates...

Three hundred eighty-eight women and two hundred ninety-six men, all parents, provided intake data at a university family therapy clinic. Among self-report items completed were questions relating to childhood abuse, perceived parenting, depressive feelings, hardiness, and current relationship functioning. Results indicated that physical abuse in ch...

Purpose The increased number of Eastern European immigrants provides many opportunities to work with these immigrants and issues related to immigration. The purpose of this article is to examine Eastern European immigrants' adaptation patterns and provide recommendations for family therapy working with the group. Design/methodology/approach Semi‐s...

This introductory article briefly describes the purpose and content of the special section on Learning Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, including a short description of the four manuscripts that follow and their relevance to clinicians regardless of model, training, or license.

This study examined the process of learning Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) as reported by 122 EFT therapists and therapists-in-training. Participants completed an online questionnaire assessing their experiences of learning EFT, with particular emphasis on EFT theory, alliance, interventions, perceived impact on clients, and impact on se...

This study examined the relationship between self-reported childhood physical and sexual abuse, romantic relationship quality, possible gender differences, and clinical implications. Three hundred thirty-eight women and 296 men who sought services at a university mental health clinic in the northeast region of the United States completed a 30-minut...

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) studies report that marital/family support relates to glycemic control, adherence, and quality of life. Yet, there are few reports on couples-focused interventions. This study aims to describe the challenges faced and lessons learned in the implementation of a theoretically based, couples intervention. Three hundred fifty cou...

A pilot study was conducted to assess the feasibility and potential efficacy of a couples focused diabetes intervention in which a collaborative problem-solving approach to diabetes self-care was promoted. Couples (N = 44), in which one partner had Type 2 diabetes and was in poor blood glucose control were randomly assigned to one of three groups:...

Growing research has demonstrated a link between spiritual well-being and better health; however, little is known about possible physiological mechanisms. In a sample of highly religious healthy male and female adults (n = 100) ages 19-59 (m = 28.28) we examined the influence of spiritual well-being, as measured by the Functional Assessment of Chro...

Past research on Black clients' utilization of therapy focused on the barriers that prevent Black clients from attending therapy and the reasons for these barriers. However, few studies have been conducted that focus on how Black clients attending therapy actually experience these barriers. This study utilized both Likert and open-ended questions t...

This study addressed the relationship between daily stress, intimacy, and marital quality in mature marriages in which the ages of husbands and wives ranged from 55 to 75 years. Four hundred and seventy-two individuals married to each other and randomly sampled from all fifty states completed the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale, the Personal Asse...

Traditionally, "good outcome research" has referred to laboratory-based, controlled studies that report the efficacy of a given treatment on a specific population. Although useful and needed in the struggle to establish MFTs as accepted mental health service providers, this type of research does not address whether MFT is effective in "real world"...

The death of a child is an event that can fall into the category of uncontrollable life events, testing the limits of the ability to control of bereaved parents. The literature reviewed showed that religious/spiritual coping is a unique way of coping and may be particularly important for couples who have lost a child. When assessing the couples’ co...

Using data from interviews with 28 older couples in which 1 spouse was diagnosed with diabetes and osteoarthritis, we examined illness perceptions and coping activities as they relate to illness management and relationship resilience. Qualitative analysis of interview transcripts revealed categories of data related to perceptions, coping, and cross...

Using Engel's biopsychosocial model and family systems theory, this study explored the associations between multiple sclerosis (MS) patient and partner reports of physical functioning, depression, and couple relationship quality. Fifty-four couples recruited from the MS society completed self-report questionnaires about couple relationship quality,...

Telehealth interventions are feasible and efficacious. While patients are the focus of both quantitative and qualitative studies that assess their response to telehealth, little is known about the view of providers of telehealth services. The purpose of this study was to better understand the experiences of providers and the factors that they perce...

About six hundred and fourteen elderly people married to each other, average ages 66 and 63 respectively, in long term, mature marriages, lasting on the average 36 years, completed the Marital Satisfaction Inventory, Revised-MSIr (Snyder, D.K. 1999) and the short version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (Kohout, F.J., Berk...

This study tested the hypothesis that marital distress has a significant effect on health care utilization for older couples. Results from 536 intact couples in long term marriages showed men in dissatisfying marriages are more likely to utilize health care services; women in satisfying marriages are more likely to use health care services. There w...

This qualitative research focuses on understanding the experiences of elderly patients with diabetes who participated in a telemedicine case management intervention, to better understand the barriers to success of telemedicine with the elderly. Telephone interviews were conducted with elderly patients with diabetes prior to and 6 and 12 months afte...

Couple research has shown spousal support is associated with better treatment adherence, illness adaptation and blood sugar control in studies of individuals with diabetes. However, few studies have investigated gender differences and how they impact spousal supporting behaviors. In this study, seventy-four individuals (patients and spouses) partic...

The constant comparison method was used to analyze seven in-depth interviews with Marriage and Family Therapists and some of their colleagues working with dying children and their families. The findings of the study revealed that working in these settings can encourage shifts in priorities, relationships, and beliefs about life and death, and can e...

A great deal of clinical research has sought to describe and suggest remedies for the client dropout phenomenon. However, few studies have addressed the equally pervasive, yet often ignored, non-engagement problem. An exploratory study was conducted to understand why many clients fail to engage in family therapy services after they have completed t...

Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is one of the most troubling rheumatic disorders for patients, significant others, and the health care providers who treat them. Responses from 150 participants provided valuable information on the relationship between family resilience and the management of fibromyalgia. Self reported family stressors, strains, and dist...

Family and marital support have been shown to be associated with better treatment adherence, illness adaptation, and blood sugar control in studies of individuals with diabetes. However, the behavior and attitudes that describe appropriate support have not been defined. This qualitative study asked couples who live with diabetes to define support....

Although research has established that depression in later life can negatively impact the quality of an individual's life, few studies have addressed the relationship between depression and marital process in aging couples. To understand how older couples' experience and describe depression and its impact on their marriage, 26 older couples were in...

Involvement of front-line clinicians in clinical studies is crucial for quality marriage and family therapy effectiveness research. To identify common barriers to clinical research, 326 clinical members of the American Association for Marital and Family Therapy from three geographically diverse states were asked to describe their willingness to par...

We discuss the status of the scientist-practitioner model in marriage and family therapy (MFT) doctoral programs. Issues discussed include a lack of faculty research role models in doctoral programs, "farming out" the majority of research courses to other disciplines, problems with curriculum, and how the culture of MFT does not support research. W...

The purpose of this research was to better understand what factors a sample of independent living oldest-old people believed contributed to their late-life independence. Participants selected from a list of Medicare recipients were interviewed in their homes and asked to identify factors that they felt were responsible for their ability to remain i...

In 1997, an article in the American Journal of Family Therapy was published that summarized the outcome research regarding the efficacy of specific approaches of Marriage and Family Therapy in treating certain disorders (Sandberg et al ., 1997). The article updated the original matrix of findings reported by Gurman, Kniskern, and Pinsof (1986) by r...