Factors promoting alliance quality: Differentiation of therapeutic alliance according to the formal aspects of the psychotherapeutic process and demographic variables

Abstract

Background and Objectives

The study's main aim was to determine which formal aspects of psychotherapy (therapist's work experience, number of sessions held, frequency of meetings, length of sessions) contributed to the quality of the therapeutic (working) alliance. The alliance was also analyzed for demographic variables.

Methods

The sample consisted of 428 participants, and the working alliance was evaluated in 262 psychotherapist–patient dyads. To assess its quality, the author used the full version of the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI).

Results

The analyzes led to several conclusions. Their results indicate that the quality of working alliance increases if psychotherapy is conducted by an experienced specialist, if the frequency of sessions is high, and if the sessions are longer. They do not, however, pinpoint the demographic markers of therapeutic alliance quality.

Conclusion

The formal aspects of the psychotherapeutic process influence the quality of the working alliance. Alliance develops to an equal degree in people of different ages and with diverse levels of education, regardless of the presence or absence of close interpersonal relationships in their lives.