This study is a multi-case study which examines the experiences of participants involved in a 12-session integrated couples treatment program for domestic violence. Participants included 7 therapists and 5 heterosexual couples. 3 couples participated in individual couples treatment, and 2 participated in a multi-couple group treatment. 2 of the couples were Black, while all other couples were White. 4 out of 5 couples were married; one couple was in a committed dating relationship. All therapists were trained in marriage and family therapy. All participants filled out open-ended questions about their expectations for therapy and participated in two interviews to elicit their experiences of ongoing therapy. Interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed, and data were analyzed using the constant comparative method. The findings include clients' and therapists' expectations of therapy prior to treatment, and their experiences of therapy during the first half of treatment. Participants discussed which aspects of therapy were helpful, and which aspects of therapy were not helpful. In general, clients emphasized helpful therapist behaviors and qualities that seemed to facilitate their engagement in the therapy process. Therapists tended to focus on specific techniques they employed to facilitate changes in their clients. Participants most often criticized the treatment length as insufficient. Participants also shared their views about the racial difference between therapists and clients, or among group members in the multi-couple treatment group. Most participants believed that racial difference had no effect on the treatment. Finally, participants shared their opinions about traditional domestic violence treatment versus couples treatment of violence. / Master of Science

A presente tese busca refletir a respeito do existenciário corporar, a partir da narrativa de uma história pessoal, com ênfase na atenção psicológica. Percorrendo várias linhas da Psicologia para compreender a história de Frederico, e seu modo de presença junto ao outro, a pesquisa encontra na analítica do ser-aí outras possibilidades de compreensão para o corporar, que se difere fundamentalmente da concepção de corpo orgânico. O trabalho parte para investigar se é possível pensar na corporeidade, como existencial do ser-aí, a partir das considerações heideggerianas e como elas podem encaminhar, em paralelo a história de Frederico, possíveis compreensões do corporar. A pesquisa segue perpassando, juntamente, pelos existenciais do ser-aí, a saber, ser-nomundo, abertura, espacialidade, compreensão-de-ser, modos de se encontrar exisitindo, dentre outros. Por fim, tenta-se mostrar como a tonalidade afetiva, o horizonte disposto e o gesto estão em relação direta com o corporar. Das indagações brotadas, reflexões surgem na direção de poder melhor compreender o modo da presença de Frederico / The present thesis aims at analyzing the existentiell bodying forth, from a personal history narrative perspective, with emphasis on psychological attention. After reviewing several Psychologies theories in order to try to understand Frederico´s history, and his presence mode with the other, the research finds in the analytical Dasein other possibilities to comprehend bodying forth, which differs fundamentally from the body organic concept. The text goes on to investigate if it is possible to think of corporality, as a Dasein´s existential, according to Heideggers analytical considerations, and how the heideggerian approach can show the way, alongside Fredericos history, to possible understandings of the bodying forth. The research also discusses the Dasein´s existentials, as being-in-theworld, disclosedness, spatiality, finding oneself, among other concepts. In the end, the text attempts to show how being attuned, disposed horizon and gesture are in direct relation to the bodying forth. From the made inquiries arise reflections to better understand Fredericos presence mode

A presente tese busca refletir a respeito do existenciário corporar, a partir da narrativa de uma história pessoal, com ênfase na atenção psicológica. Percorrendo várias linhas da Psicologia para compreender a história de Frederico, e seu modo de presença junto ao outro, a pesquisa encontra na analítica do ser-aí outras possibilidades de compreensão para o corporar, que se difere fundamentalmente da concepção de corpo orgânico. O trabalho parte para investigar se é possível pensar na corporeidade, como existencial do ser-aí, a partir das considerações heideggerianas e como elas podem encaminhar, em paralelo a história de Frederico, possíveis compreensões do corporar. A pesquisa segue perpassando, juntamente, pelos existenciais do ser-aí, a saber, ser-nomundo, abertura, espacialidade, compreensão-de-ser, modos de se encontrar exisitindo, dentre outros. Por fim, tenta-se mostrar como a tonalidade afetiva, o horizonte disposto e o gesto estão em relação direta com o corporar. Das indagações brotadas, reflexões surgem na direção de poder melhor compreender o modo da presença de Frederico / The present thesis aims at analyzing the existentiell bodying forth, from a personal history narrative perspective, with emphasis on psychological attention. After reviewing several Psychologies theories in order to try to understand Frederico´s history, and his presence mode with the other, the research finds in the analytical Dasein other possibilities to comprehend bodying forth, which differs fundamentally from the body organic concept. The text goes on to investigate if it is possible to think of corporality, as a Dasein´s existential, according to Heideggers analytical considerations, and how the heideggerian approach can show the way, alongside Fredericos history, to possible understandings of the bodying forth. The research also discusses the Dasein´s existentials, as being-in-theworld, disclosedness, spatiality, finding oneself, among other concepts. In the end, the text attempts to show how being attuned, disposed horizon and gesture are in direct relation to the bodying forth. From the made inquiries arise reflections to better understand Fredericos presence mode

Agens, vilket definieras som klientens upplevelse av att intentionellt kunna handla utifrån önskade och förväntade utfall, men också upplevelsen av att kunna påverka utgången av sitt liv, har i tidigare forskning lyfts fram som en potentiell common factor och psykologisk förändringsmekanism vid psykoterapeutisk behandling. Föreliggande studie syftade till att undersöka terapeuters upplevelse av arbetet med klientens agens i psykoterapi. Sju semistrukturerade intervjuer med yrkesverksamma leg. psykoterapeuter och/eller leg. psykologer genomfördes och analyserades utifrån en induktiv tematisk analys, vilket mynnade ut i tre teman: Det konfliktfyllda agentskapet, Värdet av agens i psykoterapi och Att främja agens - ett gemensamt arbete. Studiens resultat visar att klientens agentskap upplevdes konfliktfyllt och svårt att hantera för klienten, vilket påverkade det terapeutiska arbetet och krävde bedömning och medvetandegörande från terapeuten. Att arbeta agensfrämjande upplevdes ha ett stort värde och som en grundförutsättning för att åstadkomma varaktig förändring. Klientens agens upplevdes främjas av ett gemensamt arbete, vilket terapeuten behöver skapa förutsättningar för. Studiens resultat går i linje med tidigare forskning om agens som en möjlig psykologisk förändringsmekanism och common factor, vilket lyfter frågan huruvida framtida psykoterapeutisk behandling och klinisk träning av terapeuter bör ha en större betoning på kärnprocesserna i en effektiv terapi, där klientens agens kan vara en sådan. / Agency, which can be defined as the experience of being able to intentionally act upon wished and anticipated outcomes, but also the experience of being able to influence the outcome of one’s life, has in previous research been proposed as a potential common factor and mechanism of change in psychotherapy. The purpose of the present study was to explore therapists’ experiences of working with client’s agency in psychotherapy. This was explored by using a qualitative approach and was based on seven semi-structured interviews with licensed psychologists and/or licensed psychotherapists. The data was analysed through an inductive thematic analysis, which resulted in three themes: The conflicts of agency, The value of agency in psychotherapy and Fostering agency - A joint work. The results showed that the therapists’ experiences client´s agency as something conflicted and difficult for the clients to manage, which affects the therapeutic work and thereby requires assessment and raising awareness. Furthermore, working with a client´s agency was highly valued and experienced as a prerequisite for achieving long lasting change in therapy. A joint work between therapist and client, which the therapist needs to create conditions for, was experienced as something that fostered the client’s agency. The results of the study are consistent with previous research regarding agency as a potential common factor and mechanism of change in psychotherapy. This raises the question of whether psychotherapy and clinical training of psychotherapists should put a greater emphasis on core processes in an effective psychotherapy, perhaps such as client’s agency.

Studiens syfte var att undersöka terapeuters erfarenheter av att arbeta med hundassisterad terapi med kvalitativ metod. Studien bygger på intervjuer med sex yrkesutövare som inkluderade terapihund i sitt klientarbete. Datainsamlingen bearbetades med en tematisk analys vilken gav fyra huvudteman. Kontextuella terapifaktorer, Terapiprocess, Påverkan på terapeutroll och verksamhet och Terapihunden som terapeutisk agent. Resultatet visar att terapihund kan användas som en icke-verbal terapiingrediens, den erbjuder en brygga vid terapialliansbyggande och den inkluderar beröring. Terapeuterna uppfattas ha ett utvidgat ansvar som terapihundförare, och de förefaller ta hand om terapihundarna med stor lyhördhet, vilket ger intrycket att djurens välfärd kan påverkas positivt. Terapihundarna väljs ut och tränas utifrån lämplighet och deras beteenden bygger på väl utvecklade sinnen och ett eget känsloregister. I analysen tolkas terapirelationen som inte bara dyadisk utan också triadisk. I diskussionen konceptualiseras terapihunden från en tvåpersonspsykologisk position. Denna modell föreslår att terapihunden bör erkännas som ett tredje subjekt i den terapeutiska triaden med sin egen subjektivitet, snarare än som endast ett verktyg som kan användas i en terapimetod. Resultatet kopplas till tidigare forskning och framtida forskningsområden diskuteras. / The aim of this study was to investigate how therapists experience their use of dog-assisted therapy with qualitative method. The study is built on interviews with six professionals who included therapy dogs in their work with clients. The empirical data was analyzed thematically and four main themes emerged: Contextual therapy factors, Therapy process, Impact on the therapist role and on the working place and The therapy dog as a therapeutic agent. The results showed that therapy dogs can be utilized as a non-verbal ingredience and as a bridge building alliance and they can offer tactile stimulation. The therapists are perceived to have an expanded responsibility as dog instructors and they seem to care for their therapy dogs with high sensitivity, which gives the impression that it may affect the animals’ welfare positively. The therapy dogs are selected and trained by criteria of suitability and their behaviours are built on their perceptual abilitys and their own emotional range. In the analysis the therapeutic relationship is interpreted as not only dyadic but also triadic. In the discussion the therapy dog is conceptualized from a two-person psychological position. Such a model proposes that the therapy dog should be recognized as a third subject in the therapeutic triad with its’ own subjectivity, rather than only as a tool to be used in a therapeutic method. The findings of the study are related to previous research and future topics of research are discussed.