The Role Of Specific And Common Process Variables In Residential Couple Therapy

The relationship between common process variables (optimism, empathy, safety/trust, insight) and specific process variables (communication and conflict management skills [CCM]) was studied from the perspectives of 176 couples and their therapists in Norway. In a mixed- model analysis, clients and therapists reported that CCM skills predicted clients' insight. From the therapists' perspective, CCM predicted optimism, empathy, and safety/trust. Clients' optimism and therapists' perception of clients' empathy predicted CCM. Finally, clients' optimism was found to predict therapists' optimism. One clinical implication is that training in specific CCM skills in couple therapy facilitates therapeutic improvement assessed by common process factors.