THE THERAPEUTIC ALLIANCE AND DIFFICULTIES IN THERAPY IN THE CONTEXT OF PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FAMILY THERAPISTS
Abstract
Purpose. The aim of study was to examine the characteristics of the therapeutic relationships among family therapists and identify correlations between these characteristics and therapeutic experiences, generalized attachment style, personality traits, and typical difficulties in the psychotherapy process.
Methods. A battery of psychological questionnaires was used to assess the characteristics of the therapeutic alliance in relation to the therapeutic experience and difficulties in therapy, generalized attachment style, and personality traits: Agnew Relationship Measure, Psychotherapists Common Core Questionnaire, Relationship Quality Self- Assessment by K. Bartholomew and L. Horowitz, Big Five personal questionnaire by R. McCray, P. Costa.
Results. The qualitative and substantive characteristics of the therapeutic alliance significantly correlate with the personal traits and with the type of difficulty in the process of psychotherapy. The duration of psychotherapy education and psychotherapy practice correlates with a better therapeutic alliance. Extroverted therapists with a secure attachment have better understanding of clients’ emotional responses. Other indicators of the quality of the therapeutic alliance: communication, partnership and client initiative significantly correlate with self-control, perseverance, organization, discipline, responsibility, accuracy at work, as well as sociocentrism, emotional stability. The type of self-reported therapy difficulties are different for therapists with different attachment styles. When the type of attachment with a negative attitude to oneself and to others dominates, there will often be difficulties with excessive client expectations and impairment.
Conclusions. The personality traits of family psychotherapists described in the study, attachment style, therapeutic experience predict the quality of the therapeutic alliance, and therefore are important to consider in the professional psychotherapy training or advanced training.
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