Here we go:
"The results of the study show that client ratings of the working alliance are more strongly associated with treatment outcome and that clients typically rate the alliance higher than the therapists.The results also show that treatments where therapists rate the alliance higher than clients produce worse outcome. The results of the study were interpreted as showing that clients and therapists perceive and understand the concept of the working alliance from different viewpoints that do not necessarily match. It also seems that discrepancies in alliance ratings typically are of no discernible consequence for psychological treatment to yield acceptable outcome and that clients’ perception of the alliance is a key factor for a positive treatment outcome which mirrors previous results from research on the association between the working alliance and treatment impact."
From this source http://www.psykologforbundet.se/Documents/Specialist/Abstracts%20140603/Congruence%20in%20the%20therapists%20and%20clients%20ratings%20of%20the%20therapeutic%20alliance%20does%20not%20predict%20outcome%20in%20psychological%20treatment%20av%20MIKAEL%20SINCLAIR.pdf
I don't think it's particularly surprising that the client's perception of the alliance is the most important factor in a positive treatment outcome. (that, as BudFox said, would seem obvious). But I do think it's interesting that clients typically rate higher than therapists--I would expect it to be the other way around, if there's any truth to that stereotype of therapists as arrogant or at very least Self-protective (as Sarah brought up).
That congruence doesn't seem to matter is very interesting to me. Seems like a highly-rated alliance would also be highly congruent.
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"Fantasy, abandoned by reason, produces impossible monsters; united with it, she is the mother of the arts and the origin of their marvels." - Francisco de Goya
Last edited by Argonautomobile; Mar 26, 2016 at 05:16 PM.
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