Bridging Gaps, Building Connections: A Dyadic and Cross-Cultural Approach to Couple Satisfaction in Therapy
Information
Date & Time
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Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
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These objectives are designed to bridge the gap between research findings and practical therapeutic applications, especially in a state with a historically high level of religiosity. They are designed based on research to provide therapists with a deeper or more nuanced understanding of the complexities in couple relationships, especially in the context of religiosity, relational virtues, and couple's satisfaction for addressing these dynamics in their practice when appropriate.
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Understanding the Dyadic Nature of Couple Satisfaction. Therapists will gain insights into how couple satisfaction is influenced not just by individual factors but also by the dynamic interplay between partners. The session will focus on the dyadic conceptualization of couple satisfaction, emphasizing the importance of considering both the actor and partner effects in therapy.
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Integrating Religiosity into Couple Therapy. Participants will learn how different dimensions of religiosity (such as public, private, ideological, intellectual, and experiential religiosity) impact relationship dynamics. The session will provide awareness for therapists about commitment, sacrifice, forgiveness, attitude toward sanctification of marriage (defined as one's belief the marriage is "from God" or contains Divine properties), and relational equality as they connect religiosity to couple's satisfaction, into therapeutic interventions. How to sensitively and effectively incorporate these considerations is especially crucial in contexts where religion significantly influences the lives of couples.
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Cross-Cultural Considerations in Couple Therapy. This objective will explore how cultural factors influence the relationship between religiosity and couple satisfaction at the dyadic level of analysis. Therapists will learn to recognize cultural variations or the absence of thereof when religious expression and couple's satisfaction are helpful aids in therapeutic settings. The session will offer guidance for culturally competent practice, drawing on the comparative insights from American and Russian cultural contexts provided by the author's research study and discussed in the context of Black and Hispanic/Latino couples. Clarification: As a researcher and educator (Family Science Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor at McNeese State University, since 2018), I wish to bring valuable insights and aim to enhance the theoretical understanding of the interplay between religiosity and couple's satisfaction. My role is to report on research data and findings, offer a unique perspective, but also draw on participant's therapeutic experiences. This presentation is crafted to be both engaging and informative, blending theoretical frameworks with practical applications. Through an interactive style, I aim to foster audience engagement, encouraging therapists to actively participate and reflect on these concepts so that their therapeutic practical experience would be a valuable aid for this presentation.
Description
In the Spirit of “Thinking outside the Box,” based on research, and the current scholarship, this enlightening session explores the depths of couple’s relational dynamics by reporting on dyadic and cross-cultural approaches that explain the connection between religiosity and couple’s satisfaction. Additionally, in the state with higher levels of religiosity, insights into the interplay between the centrality of religiosity and couple’s satisfaction through relationship virtues and relational equality may be informative for therapists seeking to deepen their approach to couple’s therapy in diverse settings. Ideal for therapists committed to enriching their cultural competence and accounting for religiously nuanced practice. #CoupleTherapy #DyadicApproach #CulturalDiversityInTherapy #research4therapy
Target Audience
- Louisiana Counselors
- Louisiana Counselors
- Louisiana Marriage and Family Therapists
- Louisiana Marriage and Family Therapists
- Louisiana Social Workers
- Louisiana Social Workers
- Louisiana Substance Abuse Counselors and Trainers
- Louisiana Substance Abuse Counselors and Trainers
Presenters
Dr. Ilya Okhotnikov is an Assistant Professor of Family Science. He received his doctorate in family science from the University of Kentucky.
Dr. Okhotnikov’s current research focuses on studying relational virtues and cross-cultural issues. He recently completed a two-year service term at a section of the National Council on Family Relations, the premier professional association focused on family research and education.
At McNeese, Dr. Okhotnikov is the Director of the Family Science program. Students in the program complete a capstone internship course, where they are matched with one of 50 nonprofit, educational and governmental organizations in four states to gain hands-on experience in various areas of family life so they can immediately provide support to families in professional roles upon graduation. Over the past four years, family science student interns have provided over 10,000 hours of service to their communities through this program.
Financially Sponsored By
- Louisiana Association for Marriage & Family Therapy