COUPLES THERAPISTS’ PRACTICES AND EXPERIENCES TREATING EMOTIONAL INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE

Emotional intimate partner violence (IPV) is one of the most underrecognized yet clinically distressing forms of IPV. Despite comparable or greater psychological harm than physical and sexual IPV, emotional IPV has received limited empirical and clinical attention, leaving therapists without clear frameworks for treatment. This study analyzes the qualitative interviews of 8 C/MFTs in individual private practice or group practice to explore how they conceptualize and identify emotional IPV, their comfort levels with working with couples when emotional IPV is present, as well as their clinical processes, such as assessments, interventions, and referral strategies. The data is analyzed through IPA to understand the participants’ experiences and meaning-making of these clinical experiences to best identify similar themes, gaps, and further questions about serving this clinical population. Findings contribute to expanding the literature base about emotional IPV, filling prior research gaps on the practices and experiences of licensed therapists working with emotional IPV couples. By identifying themes and systemic gaps in the practices of therapists working with this population, the study results provide suggestions for future research questions, emotional IPV training, and clinical practices, as well as overall expanding the literature base on emotional IPV.

Department dc:contributor.department

Psychology

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Borodkina, Arina Yevgenevna

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Mittal, Mona

Language dc:language.iso

en

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.13016/ozd9-k535

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:drum.lib.umd.edu:1903/35989