Main description:

This state-of-the-art book presents research-based practice guidelines that clinicians of any orientation can use to optimize the therapeutic alliance. Leading proponents of the major psychotherapeutic approaches explain just what a good alliance is, how to create it, and how to recognize and repair alliance ruptures. Applications in individual, group, couple, and family therapy are explored; case examples vividly illustrate the concepts and techniques. Links between the quality of the alliance and client outcomes are elucidated. A section on training fills a major gap in the field, reviewing proven strategies for helping therapists to develop key relationship-building skills.

Contents:

An Introduction: Establishing the Context and Rationale, J. Christopher Muran and Jacques P. BarberI. Critical Studies of the Therapeutic Alliance 1. Alliance Theory and Measurement, Robert L. Hatcher 2. The Validity of the Alliance as a Predictor of Psychotherapy Outcome, Jacques P. Barber, Shabad-Ratan Khalsa, and Brian A. Sharpless 3. The Alliance over Time, William B. Stiles and Jacob Z. Goldsmith 4. Qualitative Studies of Negative Experiences in Psychotherapy, Clara E. Hill 5. Alliance Ruptures and Resolution, Catherine Eubanks-Carter, J. Christopher Muran, and Jeremy D. SafranII. Practice and the Therapeutic Alliance 6. A Psychodynamic Perspective on the Therapeutic Alliance: Theory, Research, and Practice, Stanley B. Messer and David L. Wolitzky 7. An Interpersonal Perspective on Therapy Alliances and Techniques, Lorna Smith Benjamin and Kenneth L. Critchfield 8. The Therapeutic Alliance in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Louis G. Castonguay, Michael J. Constantino, Andrew A. McAleavey, and Marvin R. Goldfried 9. A Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) Approach to the Therapeutic Alliance, Mavis Tsai, Robert J. Kohlenberg, and Jonathan W. Kanter 10. The Therapeutic Alliance in Humanistic Psychotherapy, Jeanne C. Watson and Freda Kalogerakos 11. Therapeutic Alliances in Couple Therapy: The Web of Relationships, Adam O. Horvath, Dianne Symonds, and Luis Tapia 12. Therapeutic Alliances and Alliance Building in Family Therapy, Valentin Escudero, Laurie Heatherington, and Myrna L. Friedlander 13. The Therapeutic Alliance in Group Therapy, William E. Piper and John S. OgrodniczukIII. Training Programs on the Therapeutic Alliance 14. Developing Skills in Managing Negative Process, Jeffrey L. Binder and William P. Henry 15. Training in Alliance-Fostering Techniques, Paul Crits-Christoph, Katherine Crits-Christoph, and Mary Beth Connolly Gibbons 16. Developing Therapist Abilities to Negotiate Alliance Ruptures, J. Christopher Muran, Jeremy D. Safran, and Catherine Eubanks-Carter 17. Coda: Recommendations for Practice and Training, Brian A. Sharpless, J. Christopher Muran, and Jacques P. Barber