Developing an Acceptance and Commitment-Based Couple Therapy Model to Reduce Experiential Avoidance, Enhance Shared Values, and Improve Relational Flexibility
Keywords:
Couple therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, experiential avoidance, shared values, relational flexibility, thematic analysis.Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to develop an acceptance and commitment-based couple therapy model for reducing experiential avoidance, enhancing shared values, and improving relational flexibility among couples in Tehran.Methods and Materials: This qualitative study was conducted using thematic analysis. The participants consisted of 24 married individuals from couples who had referred to counseling and psychological service centers in Tehran. They were selected through purposive sampling with maximum variation in age, length of marriage, educational level, and type of marital conflict. Inclusion criteria included at least two years of marital life, experience of persistent conflict or emotional distance, willingness to participate in the interview, and absence of acute psychiatric crisis or severe marital violence. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data analysis was performed through open, axial, and selective coding using NVivo software. To enhance the trustworthiness of the findings, member checking, peer review, analytic memoing, and constant comparison were applied.Findings: Data analysis led to the extraction of four main categories: “the cycle of experiential avoidance and emotional control,” “disconnection from shared couple values,” “relational inflexibility in conflict situations,” and “reconstruction of the bond through acceptance, mindful presence, and committed action.” The findings indicated that avoidance of painful emotions, suppression of relational needs, defensiveness, withdrawal, and attempts to control the partner’s inner experiences maintained the cycle of marital conflict. In contrast, clarification of shared values, acceptance of difficult experiences, cognitive defusion from maladaptive narratives, and small but consistent committed actions facilitated relational flexibility and repaired couple dialogue.Conclusion: The proposed model suggests that acceptance and commitment-based couple therapy may improve relationship quality by reducing experiential avoidance, reconnecting couples with shared values, and strengthening flexible responding during conflict. This model can provide a culturally adapted framework for designing couple therapy interventions in the Iranian context.
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References
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