Development of a Family Therapy Package Based on the Integration of Structural–Systemic and Attachment-Based Therapy

Authors

    Fataneh Riahi Far PhD student in Psychology, Department of Psychology, Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
    Zahra Yousefi * Assistance Professor, Department of Cilinical Psychology, Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran. Dr_yousefi@iau.ac.ir
    Mohsen Golparvar Professor, Department of Psychology, Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran /Research Center for Behavioral and Psychological Science, Department of Dsychology, Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

Keywords:

structural–systemic, attachment-based couple therapy, package development, systemic–structural

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop and validate an integrative family therapy educational package that combines the principles of structural–systemic theory and attachment-based couple therapy to address relational organization and emotional security simultaneously.

Methods and Materials: This study employed a qualitative design using conventional content analysis to synthesize theoretical and empirical texts related to structural–systemic family therapy and attachment-based couple therapy. Relevant sources were selected through predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria until theoretical saturation was achieved. An integrative package was then developed through a multistage synthesis process. Content validity was assessed by seven expert family therapists using structured evaluation forms, and the Content Validity Ratio (CVR) was calculated to determine expert agreement.

Findings: Inferential analysis indicated a high level of expert agreement regarding the relevance, coherence, and applicability of the developed package. The calculated Content Validity Ratio demonstrated strong consensus among evaluators, supporting the adequacy of the package structure, session sequencing, therapeutic axes, and integration logic. Experts confirmed that the package effectively integrates systemic components (boundaries and power) with attachment-based components (emotional regulation, trust, and intimacy).

Conclusion: The findings support the content validity and theoretical coherence of the developed integrative family therapy package. By systematically combining structural–systemic and attachment-based principles, the package provides a comprehensive framework for addressing both organizational and emotional dimensions of couple and family functioning, offering a promising foundation for future empirical testing and clinical application.

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Additional Files

Published

2026-05-01

Submitted

2025-10-26

Revised

2026-02-02

Accepted

2026-02-09

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Riahi Far, F., Yousefi, Z., & Golparvar , M. . (2026). Development of a Family Therapy Package Based on the Integration of Structural–Systemic and Attachment-Based Therapy. Applied Family Therapy Journal (AFTJ) , 1-15. https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/aftj/article/view/5041