Abstract
The processes clients engage in between therapy sessions (referred to as intersession processes; ISPs) are empirically supported as influential factor in psychotherapy. The current study examined the impact of the therapeutic alliance- both the individual alliance and the systemic alliance-on client engagement in ISP-thoughts, ISP-actions, and client perceptions of therapy progress. Eighty-one therapy clients provided responses regarding these therapy process variables, and results revealed that higher ratings of client/therapist alliance (referred to as "self-alliance"), and higher ratings of alliance between one's social network and therapy (referred to as "other-alliance") were related to greater engagement in ISP-actions, but not ISP-thoughts. In addition, an interaction factor was supported wherein those who reported high self-alliance and high other-alliance also engaged in greater ISP-actions, but this association was not found when other-alliance was reported to be low. Clients' positive perceptions of therapy progress were associated with greater engagement in ISP-thoughts, ISP-actions, and higher ratings of self- and other-alliance. Discussion and implications are offered for how therapists may be more effective at monitoring and promoting engagement in ISPs and aligning with clients' many systems.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 31-38 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Professional Psychology: Research and Practice |
| Volume | 49 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 1 2018 |
Keywords
- Alliance
- Intersession-processes
- Process and outcome
- Psychotherapy
- Systemic alliance
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Psychology