Stephen Fife, Ph.D., LMFT

Research Interests

My scholarly activities center on two broad goals: improving the quality of treatment in couple therapy and providing high-quality training for marriage and family therapy (MFT) graduate students. My research efforts are directed toward improving treatment for couples and families by specifically investigating two important areas: (1) the treatment and healing of infidelity, and (2) the foundations and processes of therapeutic change. In my scholarship and mentoring, I draw extensively upon my expertise in qualitative research methods. My research and teaching also focus on enhancing the theoretical sophistication of MFT research and practice.

Areas of Expertise:

• Common factors of therapeutic change
• Change process in couples therapy
• Treatment and healing of infidelity
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Theory and philosophy of psychotherapy
• Athletes and Relationships

Publications

Professional Books

Weeks, G. R., Fife, S. T., & Peterson, C. (Eds.). (2016). Techniques for the couple therapist: Essential interventions from the experts. Routledge.

Weeks, G. R., & Fife, S. T. (2014). Couples in treatment: Techniques and approaches for effective practice (3^rd Edition). Routledge.

Selected Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

* Graduate student co-author; ᶿ denotes co-first author

Lauricella, D., Trevino, Z.*, Maroquin, C.*, Fife, S. T., & D'Aniello, C., (in press). Winning together: In-session change with chronically conflicted couples. American Journal of Family Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2023.2301543

Whiting, J. B., Wendt, D. M., Eisert, B. C., & Fife, S. T. (2023). I and Thou in dialogue: Becoming more relational in couple therapy. Family Process. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12960

Hung, Y.*, Theobald, A.*, Soloski, K., Fife, S. T., Wood, N. (in press). The influence of ethical responsiveness on relationships through distress. The Family Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480723117369

Perez, C., Fife, S. T., Eggleston, D., & Whiting, J. B. (2023). Justifying by degrees: A grounded theory of men's decision-making process in infidelity. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 49(4) 789-898. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12663

Fife, S. T. ᶿ, Gossner, J. ᶿ*, Theobald, A.*, Allen, E.*, Rivero, A.*, & Koehl, H.* (2023). Couple healing from infidelity: A grounded theory study. Journal Social and Personal Relationships. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075231177874

Wood, N. D, Fife, S. T., Parnell, K. J., & Ross, D. B. (2023). Answering the ethical call of the other: A test of the strong relationality model of relationship flourishing. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12614

Fife, S. T.ᶿ, D'Aniello, C.ᶿ, Eggleston, D.*, Smith, J.*, & Sanders, D.* (2023). Refining the meta-theory of common factors in couple and family therapy: A deductive qualitative analysis study. Contemporary Family Therapy, 45(1), 117–130. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-022-09648-3

Gossner, J. D.*, Fife, S. T., Butler, M. H. (2022). Couple healing from infidelity: A deductive qualitative analysis study. Sex and Relationship Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681994.2022.2086231

Fife, S. T., Theobald, A.*, Gossner, J.*, Yakum, B.*, &White, K.* (2022). Individual healing from infidelity and breakup for emerging adults: A grounded theory. Journal Social and Personal Relationships, 39(6), 1814-1838. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075211067441

Butler, M. H., Gossner, J. D.*, & Fife, S. T. (2022). Partners taking turns leaning in and leaning out: Trusting in the arc of healing following betrayal. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 21(3), 233-257 (advance online publication, May 17, 2021). https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2021.1926388

Fife, S. T. ᶿ, Archuleta, K. L. ᶿ,Asebedo, S. D. ᶿ, Durband, D. B. ᶿ, Ford, M. R. ᶿ, Gray, B. T. ᶿ, Lurtz, M. R. ᶿ, McCoy, M. A. ᶿ, Pickens, J. C. ᶿ, & Sheridan, J. ᶿ (2021). Facilitating virtual client meetings for money conversations: Skills and strategies. Journal of Financial Planning, 34(4), 82-101. https://www.financialplanningassociation.org/article/journal/APR21-facilitating-virtual-client-meetings-money-conversations

Holyoak, D.*, McPhee, D.*, Hall, G.*, & Fife, S. T. (2021). Micro-level advocacy: A common process in couple and family therapy. Family Process, 60(2), 654-669. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12620

Holyoak, D.*, Fife, S. T., & Hertlein, K. M. (2021). Client's perception of marriage and family therapists' way-of-being: A phenomenological analysis. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 47, 85-103. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12469

Davis, S. D., Fife, S. T., Whiting, J. B., & Bradford, K. P. (2021). Way of being and the therapeutic pyramid: Expanding the application of a common factors meta‐model. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 47(1), 69-84. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12466

Fife, S. T.ᶿ, & D'Aniello, C.ᶿ (2020). A 20-year review of common factors research in marriage and family therapy: A mixed methods content analysis. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 46(4), 701-718. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12427

Dansby Olufowote, R. A., Fife, S. T., Schleiden, C.*, & Whiting, J. (2020). How can I become more secure?: A grounded theory of earning secure attachment. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 46(3), 489-506. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12409

Fife, S. T.ᶿ, Stewart, C.ᶿ*, Hawkins, L.* (2019). Family-of-origin, sexual attitudes, and perceptions of infidelity: A mediation analysis. TheAmerican Journal of Family Therapy, 48(2), 142-159. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2019.1684218

Fife, S. T., & Hawkins, L.* (2019). Doctor, Snitch, and Weasel: Narrative family therapy with a child suffering from encopresis and enuresis. Clinical Case Studies, 18(6), 452-467. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534650119866917

Eggleston, D.*, Hawkins, L.*, Fife, S. T. (2019). As the lights fade: A grounded theory of male professional athletes' decision-making and adjustment to retirement. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 32(5), 495-512. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2019.1626514

Fife, S. T.ᶿ, D'Aniello, C.ᶿ, Scott, S.*, & Sullivan, E.* (2019). Marriage and family therapy students' experience with common factors training. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 45(2), 191-205. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12333

Fife, S. T.ᶿ, & D'Aniello. C.ᶿ (2017). Common factors' role in accredited MFT training programs. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 43(4), 591-604. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12218

Fife, S. T. (2015). Martin Buber's philosophy of dialogue and implications for qualitative family research. Journal of Family Theory and Review, 7(3), 208-224. https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12087

Fife, S. T., Whiting, J. B., Bradford, K., & Davis, S. (2014). The therapeutic pyramid: A common factors synthesis of techniques, alliance, and way of being. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 40(1), 20-33. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12041

Fife, S. T., Weeks, G. R., & Stellberg-Filbert, J.* (2013). Facilitating forgiveness in the treatment of infidelity: An interpersonal model. Journal of Family Therapy, 35, 343-367. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6427.2011.00561.x

Whiting, J. B., Oka, M., & Fife, S. T. (2012). Appraisal distortions and intimate partner violence: Gender, power, and denial. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 38, 133-149. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2011.00285.x

Weeks, G. R., & Fife, S. T. (2009). Rebuilding intimacy following infidelity. Psychotherapy in Australia, 15(3), 28-39. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.543586338319623

Fife, S. T., Weeks, G. R., & Gambescia, N. (2008). Treating infidelity: An integrative approach. The Family Journal: Counseling & Therapy for Couples and Families, 16(4), 316-323. https://doi.org/10.1177/106648070832320

Bird, M. H., Butler, M. H., & Fife, S. T. (2007). The process of couple healing following infidelity: A qualitative study. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 6(4), 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1300/J398v06n04_01

Fife, S. T., & Whiting, J. B. (2007). Values in family therapy research and practice: An invitation for reflection. Contemporary Family Therapy, 29, 71-86. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-007-9027-1

Whiting, J. B., Nebeker, R. S., & Fife, S. T. (2005). Moral responsiveness and discontinuity in therapy: A qualitative study. Counseling and Values, 50, 20-37. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-007X.2005.tb00038.x

Butler, M. H., Dahlin, S. K., & Fife, S. T. (2002). “Languaging” factors affecting clients' acceptance of forgiveness intervention in marital therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 28, 285-298. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2002.tb01187.x