Using culture and the intersubjective perspective as a resource: A case study of an African-American couple

In this article a White Jewish-American therapist shares what she learned from her work with an African-American couple using a semi-structured protocol for planned short-term marital therapy. Twenty-eight months after the original treatment, the author met again with the couple for an audiotaped follow-up interview. Marital satisfaction for both partners was tracked with an Index of Marital Satisfaction over the course of the treatment and the follow-up process. The empirical findings augment the story of the couple and the therapist. During the middle phase, the therapy reached an impasse. With the goal of creating a cognitive shift, the therapist used the couple's culture as a resource for therapeutic change. The cultural metaphor is considered as the vital step in overcoming the treatment impasse. The major finding is that cultural responsiveness does not end with the engagement and assessment of clients. The culture of the clients and the culture of the therapist provide powerful metaphors and rich resources to introduce change possibilities. With this couple, when culture was combined with an appreciation of the intersubjective meanings for both clients and therapist, culturally responsive and effective therapy became possible.