Nashwa Tantawy
Nashwa Tantawy is a Psychologist, Couples Therapist, Researcher, and Speaker. She holds
the position of the Managing Director of Nafsology Psychology Center in Dubai, UAE.
She specializes in offering psychotherapy, speeches, and workshops in Egypt and the UAE
for adolescents, adults, and couples focusing on personality mood disorders and couples
therapy.
Nashwa is a researcher in the psychology field focusing on violence against women,
personality disorders, integrating AI technology with personality assessments, and Treatment of Trauma in the Context of Couples Therapy; she
presented her work at several conferences; including MEPA annual conference and IPCD.
Nashwa is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and an active
member of the Middle East Psychological Association (MEPA), holding the role of Treasurer
of the MEPA UAE Country Chapter.
Following her mission of spreading mental health awareness in the Arab World, Nashwa
launched Nafsology by Nashwa Tantawy virtual initiative in 2019; in 2022, she founded
Nafsology Psychology Center in Dubai with a mission to provide best practice mental health
services in a safe and supportive environment while respecting people's uniqueness,
individuality, cultural considerations and helping the community.
Addressing Intimacy in Couples Therapy in Culturally Sensitive Societies: Approaches and Considerations
In the context of couples therapy, intimacy is a central yet often complex topic, particularly when working with clients from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Intimacy, encompassing both emotional and sexual aspects, is fundamental to couple dynamics. However, cultural norms significantly influence how intimacy is understood and expressed, often creating challenges for therapists working in culturally diverse societies, especially in the Middle East.
It has been proven that Intimacy is strongly associated with the quality of the life of the couple and can be considered as a basic psychological need impacting mental health, including reducing the risk of depression, increasing happiness and well-being, and enhancing life satisfaction. (Kardan-Souraki, M., et al., 2015)
In many cultures, beliefs surrounding intimacy are closely connected with societal expectations, gender roles, religious practices, and familial structures. Moreover, with the noticeable increase of awareness and the change in perception in the Middle East where individuals and couples are seeking professional support, it is deemed necessary that cultural aspects should be incorporated in the course of therapy.
On the other hand, looking into literature, the majority of studies and existing therapy models addressing marital intimacy have oversampled western couples. And such results may not be generalizable to couples from eastern cultures. (Kamali, Z., et al., 2020)
When addressing intimacy issues in couples therapy, several therapeutic models and approaches are being followed. Each model has its own unique set of techniques that can help improve emotional and physical intimacy.
Based on the findings of a recent study published 2023, several couples therapy models including Imago relationship therapy (IRT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) enhance the intimacy and marital satisfaction of married women. (Ghahari, S., et al., 2023) Moreover, Gottman method can be used as an effective treatment in improving intimacy. (Davoodvandi, M., et al., 2018) Yet, the cultural sensitivity aspect is not fully considered.
There are several challenges that are being faced in the therapy room in understanding and tailoring our therapy models for cultural differences. When following a specific therapy model in couples therapy, the therapist is being faced with challenges in adopting the standard interventions. So change in perception and adoption of modality is necessary.
In this presentation, I will be focusing on the challenges, approaches and consideration when addressing intimacy issues in the context of couples therapy. Drawing on research and clinical examples, I will provide practical, evidence-based strategies for therapists to address intimacy issues in a way that is respectful and effective in culturally sensitive settings.
References:
Davoodvandi M, Nejad S, Farzad V. (2018). Examining the Effectiveness of Gottman Couple Therapy on Improving Marital Adjustment and Couples' Intimacy
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6037577/
Ghahari S, Sheybani F, Zarnagh H, Afshar P, Jamil L. (2023). Comparison of the Three Methods of Psychotherapy on Marital Satisfaction and Intimacy in Married Women. 12. 1-17. 10.17759/cpse.2023120101.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370059702_Comparison_of_the_Three_Methods_of_Psychotherapy_on_Marital_Satisfaction_and_Intimacy_in_Married_Women
Kamali Z, Allahyar N, Ostovar S, Alhabshi S, Mark D. (2020). Factors that influence marital intimacy: A qualitative analysis of iranian married couples. Article: 1771118 | Received 27 Oct 2019, Accepted 06 May 2020, Published online: 29 Jun 2020
https://doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2020.1771118
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23311908.2020.1771118#abstract
Kardan-Souraki M, Hamzehgardeshi Z, Asadpour I, Mohammadpour RA, Khani S. (2016). A Review of Marital Intimacy-Enhancing Interventions among Married Individuals. Glob J H