Abstract
A therapist's relationship with a spouse, i.e., partner in living, has an important influence on the quality of his or her professional functioning as this relationship offers a vital source of personal support and renewal. This relationship may aid in counterbalancing the weight of the therapist's professional demeanor by focusing on aspects of the therapist's interpersonal relatedness not commonly experienced with other professionals or with clients. The concept of a support-power base from which a therapist extends him or herself toward clients provides a context within which to view the therapist-spouse relationship. If this relationship is approached by the therapist without reliance upon a well-practiced professional role, it can make available opportunities for self-exploration which lead to enhanced personal growth and more effective functioning both personally and professionally.
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Squyres, E.M. An alternative view of the spouse of the therapist. J Contemp Psychother 16, 97–106 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00947162
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00947162