Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Doctor of Social Work (DSW)

School

Social Work

Advisor

Curtis Davis

Abstract

Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) social workers engaged in the practice of couples therapy often work with the issue of infidelity, which can be traumatizing to clients. EFT relies heavily on empathy-based interventions that allow the therapist to experience the pain of clients in the process of facilitating the repair of a couple's attachment bond. Yet the nature of EFT with infidelity can increase social workers’ risk of developing empathy-based strain (EBS), which can lead to personal and professional detriment and practice that harm clients. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe how social workers who practice EFT with couples in counseling for infidelity experience, conceptualize, and cope with emotional strain in their professional practice. A basic qualitative design was employed for this study. The conceptual framework for this study was constructivist self-developmental theory, which explained the development of EBS as an adaptive response to protect the self. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and analyzed through the use of thematic coding. The results of this study illustrated the experiences and conceptualization of EBS among EFT social workers. Multiple themes suggested that a significant amount of coping with EBS is found through the model and framework of EFT, although additional coping outside the model is still needed. The data also suggested a need for EFT training protocols to promote awareness and identification of EBS and ways that EBS can be managed. With more knowledge of EBS and how to cope with it, clinicians may be able to promote their own resilience while also providing better care for clients leading to positive social change.

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