The article below may contain offensive and/or incorrect content.
Although the effect of the therapeutic alliance on psychotherapy outcome is well documented in the research literature, less is known about how the alliance is developed during the first sessions of therapy. This qualitative meta-analysis aimed to summarize and reanalyze the existing qualitative research literature on alliance-formation processes from the perspectives of therapists and clients. Research articles were obtained through systematic searches in the following databases: PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and Web of Science. Initially, 1,006 nonduplicate articles were screened, resulting in 15 articles that explored early alliance-formation processes from the perspectives of therapists and clients. These articles were analyzed using an existing framework of meta-analyzing qualitative research. Nine articles that studied the client perspective revealed 5 overarching metathemes: (1) meeting a competent and warm therapist; (2) being understood as a whole person; (3) feeling appreciated, tolerated, and supported; (4) gaining new strength and hope for the future; and (5) overcoming initial fears and apprehension about psychotherapy. Seven articles that studied the therapist perspective revealed 6 overarching metathemes: (1) balancing technical interventions and interpersonal warmth; (2) showing a genuine desire to understand; (3) openly supporting client agency; (4) adjusting to create a sense of safety; (5) paying attention to body language; and (6) providing helpful experiences during the first session. As the first of its kind, this meta-analysis of the dual perspectives of therapists and clients shows thematic commonalities and divergences in how alliance development is experienced. Clinical implications of how alliance development can be promoted in clinical practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved)





Parent Site

Departments
Authors
Libraries
Current Articles
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Science News » NIMH Director’s Statement: Our Commitment to Ending Structural Racism in Biomedical Research
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Video » Let’s Talk About Eating Disorders with NIMH Grantee Dr. Cynthia Bulik
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Scientific Meeting » NIMH Livestream Event: Let’s Talk About Eating Disorders with NIMH Grantee Dr. Cynthia Bulik
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Science News » New Experiences Enhance Learning by Resetting Key Brain Circuit
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Blog Post » From Brain Mechanisms to Novel Therapies: Understanding and Treating Eating Disorders
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Video » GREAT: Helpful Practices to Manage Stress and Anxiety
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Video » What are the different types of clinical research?
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Blog Post » Enhancing and maintaining a culture of inclusive excellence: The NIH Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) Program
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: The snowy countries losing their identity
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Science News » Study Identifies Risk Factors for Elevated Anxiety in Young Adults During COVID-19 Pandemic
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Keep paying attention to your kids' mental health in this pandemic
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Video » What is Clinical Research?
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Video » What is an MRI?
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Video » What is a blood draw?
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Science News » Gene Readouts Contribute To Distinctness of Mental Disorders
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Science News » Adaptive screener may help identify youth at risk of suicide
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: How conspiracy theories undermine people’s trust in COVID-19 vaccines
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Curing PTSD with a shot: The new treatments that are changing lives
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Feeling disconnected from your partner?
- Article Correctness Is Author's Responsibility: Concept Clearance » Deciphering Neuroimmune Dysfunction in HIV Utilizing Human Cell Derived in vitro and in vivo Systems