Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Therapist Gender On Client Communications In Marital Therapy, Laurel C. Agee

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to explore how therapist and client gender are associated with communication behaviors of males and females in marital therapy. The majority of research on therapist gender issues has been conducted with individual clients. Few data exist on the effects of therapist gender within marital therapy. This study examined the communication patterns of couples within a marital therapy setting and the influence of therapist gender on those patterns. Forty-six 10-minute videotape segments of marital therapy were coded for communication patterns. Coded verbal statement categories included the verbal behaviors of agreement, supportive, solution of problems, and …