Skip to main content
Limited Saturday openings — Dr. Brady Eisert is now accepting weekend appointments.Book a consultation

The Research Program

Research that advances
how relationships heal

ISDR actively conducts research into what actually makes relationships and therapy work. Led by founder Dr. Brady Eisert, PhD, our program bridges academic inquiry and clinical practice.

Research Themes

What we study

Couple, Relationship & Family Therapy Process

Quantitative investigation into what actually makes therapy work — examining therapist behavior, client change mechanisms, and session-level processes.

Measurement

Creating and validating measures based on Self-Determination Based Therapy to explore change.

Theoretical Development

Re-envisioning the basis of relational therapy to be inclusive from the ground up by expanding Self-Determination Based Therapy.

Advanced Research Methods

Developing accessible methodological resources for family therapy researchers, including mediation analysis, statistical modeling, and quantitative research design.

All Publications

Published works

View full Google Scholar profile
2025

Forty Years of Couple Therapy Process Research and We Are Still Just Getting Started: A Review of Quantitative Research

JR Anderson, BC Eisert, JA Kim, H Fereidouni, MF Portillo, M Sivandian, et al.

Journal of Marital and Family Therapy

Couple TherapyProcess ResearchQuantitative Review
2025

Testing Mediation: Conceptual Foundations and Recommended Analytical Applications

JA Durtschi, BC Eisert

Advanced Methods in Family Therapy Research (Second Edition), p. 269

Research MethodsMediation AnalysisBook Chapter
2024

I and Thou in Dialogue: Becoming More Relational in Couple Therapy

JB Whiting, DM Wendt, BC Eisert, ST Fife

Family Process

Couple TherapyRelational TheoryDialogue
2024

Internet Gaming Disorder in Adolescents: Clinical Considerations and an Attachment-Based Treatment Approach

BC Eisert, RA Bean, L Oehler, TW Lovell

The American Journal of Family Therapy

AdolescentsTechnologyAttachmentGaming
2024

Do Relationship Investment Plans Increase Couples' Commitment to Therapy?

BC Eisert

Doctoral Dissertation · Kansas State University

Couples TherapyCommitmentDissertation
2023

Online Conversations About Abuse: Responses to IPV Survivors from Support Communities

JB Whiting, BN Davies, BC Eisert, AB Witting, SR Anderson

Journal of Family Violence

IPVOnline CommunitiesSupportAbuse
2021

Pinpointing Pornography's Effects: Paring Off the Influences of Masturbation, Sexual Desire Discrepancy, and Sexual Engagement in Heterosexual Dyads

BC Eisert

Master's Thesis · Brigham Young University

Sexual HealthDyadsEmpiricalThesis

"As a lifelong learner and researcher, I built ISDR to provide high-quality evidence-supported care that expands the foundation of relationship therapy."

— Dr. Brady Eisert

Evidence-supported care, grounded in real research.

Reach out about our research and collaborations — or schedule a free consultation to begin therapy.

Get in Touch

  • 1452 East 820 North, Upper Level
    Orem, UT 84097
    Telehealth: Utah, Kansas*, and Missouri*
    *select clinicians
  • (801) 648-9664
  • [email protected]

For Clinicians & Researchers

Content on this website is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute, replace, or substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Use of this site does not create a therapist-client relationship, and no confidentiality protections apply to information submitted through this site. We do not guarantee specific therapeutic outcomes — results vary based on individual circumstances, personal effort, and many factors outside our control. Always seek guidance from a qualified licensed mental health professional in your area.

If you're in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) · For emergencies, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department

© 2026 Institute for Self-Determined Relationships, PLLC. All rights reserved.