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About us

PURPOSE

An international and interdisciplinary team built to transform couple therapy field

Meet the team

We are an international team, with senior researchers and junior affiliates to seven different colleges, located in Spain, USA and Canada. We are united by the passion for understanding what determines the happiness of a couple, how to help you effectively when you are going to psychotherapy, and train new psychotherapists. We work in collaboration with other colleagues and therapists in all of Latin America.

“We want to create a bridge that will allow the cutting-edge research that is made in the USA and in Canada, come to psychotherapists of all the Spanish-speaking world”

Martino R-GPrincipal Investigator
Principal Investigator

Martiño Rodríguez-González

University of Navarra, Spain

Principal investigator of the project And(f)FECTS, the current director of Family Clinic, a researcher and professor at the University of Navarra.

To investigate differentiation of the self (e.g., measurement, couple relationship, cultural research, family functioning, stress and health), couple Therapy, Focused on the Emotions (S. Johnson; e.g., training of therapists, Spanish-speaking, results in TFE in Spanish-speaking countries, evidence -based), marriage and family, emotional maturity and marriage (for example, processes in psychotherapy, educational programs).

Doctor in Psychology from the University of Santiago de Compostela

Clinical supervision, Advanced, University of A Coruña

Master's degree in Psychology from the Family, Pontificia Università Lateranense

Diploma of Advanced Studies, Universidad Pontificia Comillas

Degree in Psychology at the University of Santiago de Compostela

CO-Principal Investigator

Jonathan Sandberg

Brigham Young University, USA

Professor in the School of Family Life Brigham Young University. Sor primary teaching responsibility is to train graduate students in marriage and family therapy.

His research focuses on the relationship between the dynamics of marital and emotional health/physical. Focuses especially on the identification of interactions that take place during therapy sessions that influence the health of marital and physical. Their teaching experience, and professional focuses on the construction of marriages and families successful. In addition, for more than 20 years, has served individuals, families and couples as a marriage and family therapist.

Co-investigator

Shayne Anderson

Brigham Young University, USA

Co-investigator of the project And(f)FECTS and an associate professor at Brigham Young University, has been co-principal investigator from September 2019 to June 2022.

Research on therapeutic alliance, communication, and other processes within the session in couple therapy, the development and improvement of research on the practice of family therapy and marriage.

Phd in Child and Family Development at the University of Georgia

Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Brigham Young University

Bachelor's degree in Family Sciences from Brigham Young University

Co-investigator

Marie-France Lafontaine

University of Ottawa, Canada

Current director of the Couple Research Lab and professor full professor at the University of Ottawa (Canada). Investigates relationships, heterosexual and same-sex romantic attachment, intimate partner violence, self-harm, chronic pain, telepsicoterapia and family health

Postdoctoral training in psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal and the State University of New York at Stony Brook

A doctor of Psychology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières

Master's degree in Psychology, Université Laval

A degree in Psychology, Université Laval

Co-investigator

Paul S. Greenman

Université du Québec en Outaouais, Canada

A professor of Psychology full-time president and chairman of the Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology, Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada.

Investigates the application of psychological treatments to patients in medical settings, has overseen and contributed to research projects on the impact of the Therapy Focused on the Emotions (TFE, for its acronym in Spanish) in couples in which one member suffers a heart disease, as well as its effects in the management of other diseases, such as diabetes and postpartum depression. Another line of research that is developing is related to the psychosocial correlates of chronic diseases, particularly the quality of couple relationships and its effects in the management of heart disease.

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO)

Co-investigator

Maria Calatrava

University of Navarra, Spain

Research at the University of Navarra

Research in Emotional Education and Human Sexuality, Process Assessment of Psychotherapeutic, Marriage, and Family

Doctorate degree by the University of Navarra

Educational Psycology at the University of Navarra

A graduate in teaching in the field of Physical Education and Sport by the University of Almeria

 

Co-investigator

Alfonso Osorio

University of Navarra, Spain

Researcher and professor at the University of Navarra. Current principal investigator of the group Emotional Education and Human Sexuality from the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS)

Research on marriage and family, education in the family, and sexual education.

Doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Navarra

Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the National University of Distance Education

Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from the University of Navarra

Co-investigator

María Pilar Martínez

Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Spain

Professor of the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, has been vice dean of relational international for 6 years. Is therapist partner, and research on family Relationships and partner, and forgiveness. His area of expertise is Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment.

Phd in Philosophy and Letters, University Pontificia Comillas.

Master's degree in Community Psychology, Specialist in Psychotherapy, marriage and family.

He graduated in Philosophy and Letters, University Pontificia Comillas.

Co-investigator

Cheri Marmarosh

Divine Mercy University, USA

Research professor in the Divine Mercy University (DMU) and a research associate in the Hospital, McLean/Harvard University. It is the principal researcher of the research laboratory dedicated to Spirituality and Mental Health in DMU.

Research on the interactive aspects of the person-related well-being in people diagnosed with incurable cancer. Among other topics, are also investigated as the attachment and faith are associated with the management of the oppression, the therapeutic alliance and outcome of psychotherapy.

Phd in Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University

Degree in Psychology, University of Florida

Co-investigator

Suzanne Hollman

Divine Mercy University, USA

Former dean and director of the Phd Program in Clinical Psychology at Divine Mercy University. Associate professor and professor clinical assistant clinical psychology at the George Washington University.

Research on integration of faith and science, the theory of psychodynamics and contemporary, the social justice as a lens through which to recognize and alleviate human suffering in all its permutations.

Psy.D. Psychology Clinic The George Washington University, a Master degree in History of Medicine by the University of Oxford

Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Stellenbosch

Degree in Psychology. University of Stellenbosch

Degree in Social Science Psychology. University of Cape Town

Co-investigator

Jokin de Irala

University of Navarra, Spain

Professor of the University of Navarra. Principal investigator of the group Emotional Education and Human Sexuality from the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) during the 2010-2020 period. Deputy director of the Institute of Sciences for the Family.

His lines of research are sexuality, natural family planning, public health, epidemiology, health adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health, and sexual and emotional education.

Phd in Epidemiology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst

Master's degree in Public Health from the University of Dundee

Bachelor's degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Navarra 

Co-investigator

Patrick Stefeen

Brigham Young University, USA

Professor in the Brigham Young University

Research on stress and health, stress reduction and biofeedback, the effects of culture and spirituality on health.

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, University of Miami Master's degree in Clinical Psychology, University of Miami Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Brigham Young University

Phd candidate

Dania Andrade

University of Navarra, Spain

Current phd student in Psychology

His research focuses on couples therapy, attachment to a partner and Therapy-Focused Emotions (TFE for its acronym in Spanish).

Phd student at the University of Navarra

Master's degree in Social Sciences from the University of Navarra

Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Navarra

Phd candidate

Alessandra Sambuceti

University of Navarra, Spain

Current phd student in Psychology

His research focuses on couples therapy, therapeutic alliance and Therapy-Focused Emotions (TFE for its acronym in Spanish).

Phd student at the University of Navarra

Master's degree in General Psychology Health, University of Navarra

Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Navarra

Cutting-edge research and impact

Starting at 2018, we are focus on projects related with emotionally focused therapy. We have already developed some research to explore its efficacy, effectiveness, and the process training process in this model, always in the context of Spanish-speaking. Some of the researchers connected with E(f)FECTS have been developing research about EFT or couple relationships for decades (e.g., Sandberg, Greenman, Lafontaine) at their own institutions. Effects offers an international platform to collaborate between us.

In the coming years we will continue to develop the research in motion, and start new projects. We are working to strengthen the collaboration with other European Universities, Spanish and North American colleagues.

Culture

Science only progresses working in a team.

Nothing great is built in solitude. Our progress is based on previous research, and we should create an environment to help those researchers who will come in the future. Empower a "chain favors"in the couple relationships research field.

01

People are more important than the project

If it is good for you, it is good for the project. We wish each person involved in the project feel "this is a good place to stay".

02

We want to generate bridges to integrate.

The knowledge generated in the research is to help clinicians to make better psychotherapy. The discoveries in a country or language, must be able to travel around the world. Not only is knowing, is how to communicate it.

03

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