ItemArticle

Exploring Therapeutic Change in Indian Clients Experiencing Emotional Abuse: A Social Justice Approach to Counselling

Title
Exploring Therapeutic Change in Indian Clients Experiencing Emotional Abuse: A Social Justice Approach to Counselling
Creator
Cheguvera, Natania; Arur, Aditi Ashok
Description
Background: This study examined the lived experiences of emotional abuse (EA) in Indian parent-adult child relationships, emphasising the intersection of systemic influences in maintaining EA. Employing a social justice framework, the research explored pathways to foster change at both individual and societal levels to address EA. Methods: Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ten participants undergoing therapy, and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results: Four master themes emerged: State of Lack, Lack of Relatability to Gender and Culture Norms, Therapy as a Catalyst for Regaining Sense of Self and Empowerment, and Cultural Shifts, Therapeutic Integration and Redefining Norms to Address Emotional Abuse. Conclusion: The findings emphasise the contribution of gender and cultural norms in the reinforcement of EA, while highlighting therapy's potential in fostering individual healing while advocating for societal transformation. Our study adds valuable literature to the fields of counselling, social justice research, cultural psychology, social psychology, and feminist psychology, and provides a basis for future research. 2025 British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Source
Counselling and Psychotherapy Research;Volume;25;Issue;1;Article No.;e12908;
Date
01-01-2025
Publisher
John Wiley and Sons Inc
Subject
counselling psychology; emotional abuse; gender and culture norms; social justice; therapeutic change
Coverage
Cheguvera N., Department of Psychology, Christ (Deemed to Be University), Karnataka, Bengaluru, India; Arur A.A., Department of Psychology, Christ (Deemed to Be University), Karnataka, Bengaluru, India
Rights
All Open Access; Bronze Open Access
Relation
ISSN: 14733145;
Format
online
Language
English
Type
Article

Citation

Cheguvera, Natania; Arur, Aditi Ashok, “Exploring Therapeutic Change in Indian Clients Experiencing Emotional Abuse: A Social Justice Approach to Counselling,” CHRIST (Deemed To Be University) Institutional Repository, accessed June 18, 2026, https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/21754.

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