Perception of co-therapy in couple and family therapy from the perspective of clients

Co-therapy in couple and family therapy is often reflected in the professional literature from the perspective of therapists, while the experience of the clients themselves remains little explored. This thesis therefore focuses on how co-therapy led by a male-female therapeutic pair is perceived by clients. The aim of the research is to answer three questions: (1) which aspects of co-therapy are important for clients, (2) what importance do they attribute to the gender composition of the therapeutic pair, and (3) how do they compare co-therapy with therapy led by a single therapist. The research is anchored in a social constructivist paradigm, which allows us to view co- therapy as a relational and dialogical process co-created by clients and therapists. The empirical part is based on qualitative research conducted through semi-structured interviews with clients of couple and family therapy who have undergone therapy led by a male-female therapeutic pair. The data were analyzed using reflective thematic analysis. The results show that co-therapy is a dynamic process made up of four interconnected pillars: a sense of safety, relational dynamics between therapists, dialogue and multiperspectivity. These elements intertwine and create a space in which clients develop an understanding of themselves and...