Social GRRRAAACCCEEESSS in intercultural couple therapy: A semantic analysis

Abstract

AbstractSocial GGRRAAACCEEESSS must be addressed by the therapist, as they can easily and unintentionally be missed. The present article is based on a qualitative analysis of two case examples to draw out extracts of conversations around such biases. The purpose of the article is to bridge the heuristic of the Social GGRRAAACCEEESSS with the concept of semantic polarities and to illustrate the complex positioning of the therapist in encounters with intercultural couples. Both a semantic analysis and a deductive thematic analysis approach was used to analyse extracts of material from two case studies. The findings are discussed adopting joint systemic and psychodynamic approaches. Social GGRRAAACCEEESSS can either remain unvoiced and marginalised or can be brought to the surface. The article addresses the importance of the therapist's role in highlighting marginalised discourses and managing unintentional alliances.