The Successful Integration of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT) and Multicultural Theory: Drew Mendelson’s Psychotherapy with "Alice" and "Steve"

Abstract

In reading Drew Mendelson’s case study, I am inspired and hopeful about the possibilities for our field to address diversity. Although there are many things to admire and discuss about Mendelson’s work, and many implications that it has for clinicians, I am choosing to focus this commentary solely on aspects of diversity, something that Mendelson clearly thinks and cares about, and something that the field is still learning how to integrate into treatment. I will discuss how Mendelson shared his knowledge of the challenges that later-life couples face, recognizing age as an aspect of diversity that needs more attention. Then I will discuss the couple that Mendelson treated and analyze how Mendelson used cultural competence to assess the role of diversity in their lives and to bridge differences between him and the couple and between the two partners. Given that Mendelson used Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT) with this case, I will review the aspects of EFCT that appear to be quite useful for working with diverse couples, as well as a set of fatal flaws that hinder the ability of EFCT and other Western treatments to address diversity fully. Based upon those observations, I conclude with the reasons why I believe that Mendelson successfully integrated EFCT and multiculturalism to tailor treatment to the couple, "Alice" and "Steve."