Çift terapisinde danışanların algıladıkları terapötik değişimdeki farklılıklar

Studies on perceptions of therapeutic change in couple therapy indicate significant differences between men and women regarding communication, behavioral changes, and emotional experiences (Doss et al., 2005). Women tend to benefit more from therapy when they feel understood and validated, whereas men report gaining more from learning new skills, developing insight, and recognizing their needs (Arora & Bhatia, 2022). Furthermore, while women show greater progress in relational adjustment, men demonstrate improvement primarily in individual functioning (Knobloch-Fedders et al., 2015). However, studies offering a detailed examination of these differences remain limited. Addressing this gap, the present study explored the change experiences of 17 heterosexual couples using thematic analysis, highlighting the gendered differences in therapeutic change processes. The findings revealed changes at individual (self- awareness, emotion regulation) and relational (communication, intimacy, trust) levels. Change processes were facilitated by therapeutic interventions, active client engagement, and therapist-related factors (emotional bond, objectivity, guidance), with gender differences becoming particularly salient in process perceptions. Women predominantly emphasized emotional processing and relational healing, whereas men highlighted structured, solution-focused changes. Additionally, women benefited more from support systems, while fear of confronting problems emerged more prominently among men. These findings suggest that sociocultural norms influence change processes and underline the importance of gender- and culture-sensitive, flexible interventions in clinical practice.