The Therapeutic Alliance: An Evidence-Based Guide to Practice

by J. Christopher Muran PhD (Editor), Jacques P. Barber PhD, ABPP (Editor)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781606238875
Publisher:	Guilford Publications, Inc.
Publication date:	02/25/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	368
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

J. Christopher Muran, PhD, is Associate Dean and Professor at the Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies and Director of the Psychotherapy Research Program at Beth Israel Medical Center. His research and publications have concentrated on developing intervention and training models relating to the therapeutic alliance. Dr. Muran is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and coeditor of the journal Psychotherapy Research.

Jacques P. Barber, PhD, ABPP, is Professor Emeritus and Dean Emeritus of the Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology at Adelphi University. He is also Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at New York University and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry and in the Graduate Psychology Group at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Barber is past president of the International Society for Psychotherapy Research and a recipient of its Outstanding Early Career Award and Distinguished Research Career Award. He has published numerous articles and books on topics including psychodynamic therapy, psychotherapy research, and the therapeutic alliance.

Table of Contents

An Introduction: Establishing the Context and Rationale, J. Christopher Muran and Jacques P. BarberI. Critical Studies of the Therapeutic Alliance1. Alliance Theory and Measurement, Robert L. Hatcher2. The Validity of the Alliance as a Predictor of Psychotherapy Outcome, Jacques P. Barber, Shabad-Ratan Khalsa, and Brian A. Sharpless3. The Alliance over Time, William B. Stiles and Jacob Z. Goldsmith4. Qualitative Studies of Negative Experiences in Psychotherapy, Clara E. Hill5. Alliance Ruptures and Resolution, Catherine Eubanks-Carter, J. Christopher Muran, and Jeremy D. SafranII. Practice and the Therapeutic Alliance6. A Psychodynamic Perspective on the Therapeutic Alliance: Theory, Research, and Practice, Stanley B. Messer and David L. Wolitzky7. An Interpersonal Perspective on Therapy Alliances and Techniques, Lorna Smith Benjamin and Kenneth L. Critchfield8. The Therapeutic Alliance in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Louis G. Castonguay, Michael J. Constantino, Andrew A. McAleavey, and Marvin R. Goldfried9. A Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) Approach to the Therapeutic Alliance, Mavis Tsai, Robert J. Kohlenberg, and Jonathan W. Kanter10. The Therapeutic Alliance in Humanistic Psychotherapy, Jeanne C. Watson and Freda Kalogerakos11. Therapeutic Alliances in Couple Therapy: The Web of Relationships, Adam O. Horvath, Dianne Symonds, and Luis Tapia12. Therapeutic Alliances and Alliance Building in Family Therapy, Valentín Escudero, Laurie Heatherington, and Myrna L. Friedlander13. The Therapeutic Alliance in Group Therapy, William E. Piper and John S. OgrodniczukIII. Training Programs on the Therapeutic Alliance14. Developing Skills in Managing Negative Process, Jeffrey L. Binder and William P. Henry15. Training in Alliance-Fostering Techniques, Paul Crits-Christoph, Katherine Crits-Christoph, and Mary Beth Connolly Gibbons16. Developing Therapist Abilities to Negotiate Alliance Ruptures, J. Christopher Muran, Jeremy D. Safran, and Catherine Eubanks-Carter17. Coda: Recommendations for Practice and Training, Brian A. Sharpless, J. Christopher Muran, and Jacques P. Barber

Interviews

Practitioners and students across the full range of mental health fields, including clinical psychology, psychiatry, counseling, and social work. May serve as a text in graduate-level psychotherapy courses.

Editorial Reviews

"Present[s] a wealth of evidence-based, thought-provoking material for all therapists who value, and want to deepen, their client relationships."

Healthcare

"Muran and Barber have assembled a truly all-star cast to address one of the most significant elements in the entire realm of psychotherapy. Representing all of the major theoretical orientations in our field, and demonstrating both clinical sophistication and keen attention to systematic research, these authors show that taking research evidence seriously implies a far broader range of topics and methodologies than are embodied in the restrictive emphasis on testing 'brand-name' packages of manualized treatments or in the rhetoric of 'empirically supported treatments.'"—Paul L. Wachtel, PhD, CUNY Distinguished Professor, Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, City College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York
 
"This book provides an invaluable and comprehensive review of the state of the evidence on what is arguably the most important common factor to therapy outcome—the therapeutic alliance. Each chapter is written by the leading experts in the field. In addition to excellent chapters on measurement, prediction, change over time, negative experiences, and repair of alliance ruptures, the volume includes important chapters from psychodynamic, interpersonal, cognitive and behavioral, and other perspectives. If you were to buy only one book on psychotherapy this year, you would be hard-pressed to find a better alternative!"—Michael E. Thase, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania
 
"This is a great book, edited by highly esteemed experts and featuring contributions by the best conceivable authors for this topic. The most current empirical evidence on the therapeutic alliance is reviewed, but the book's greatest value for psychotherapy practitioners, trainers, and trainees of any orientation resides in its recommendations for practice. I highly recommend this volume for anyone who wishes to learn how to establish and improve a therapeutic alliance."—Franz Caspar, PhD, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Switzerland 

"Drawing together leading contributors to psychotherapy research, training, and practice, Muran and Barber provide an unparalleled opportunity to develop a critically balanced, research-informed understanding of key factors that contribute to productive therapeutic alliances in differing therapy approaches. I have no doubt that this book will become an 'instant classic' in the field of psychotherapy, one that will continue to shape alliance research and practice in the years to come."—Lynne E. Angus, PhD, CPsych, Adult Clinical Psychology Graduate Program, York University, Canada

From the Publisher

"Edited and authored by leading psychotherapy researchers, this book exceeds its aims, and offers readers a comprehensive review of what is known about this important clinical concept....A multitude of both qualitative and quantitative studies are deftly presented here. This is an authoritative review of a specialist area, and should be a reference text for psychotherapists of all backgrounds. It will also be of interest to any psychiatrist who wants to appraise their own alliance-forming skills."

British Journal of Psychiatry

Most notable and useful for clinical social workers is the qualitative research presented on negative experiences in psychotherapy, as well as alliance ruptures and resolution. This research provides important data that can guide therapists in working effectively with clients around negative events that occur in the therapeutic relationship….The appeal of this book is that it brings together much of the research, theory and practice considerations relating to the therapeutic alliance in a way that is highly readable and accessible to clinical social workers and other mental health practitioners. Though other books have been published on this subject…this book is set apart by its critical review and application of research on the therapeutic relationship up to this point. Muran and Barber achieve their goal of translating ‘the latest scientific knowledge into practical guidelines that clinicians of any orientation can use to optimize the alliance.’”

Clinical Social Work Journal

Reviewer: Michael S. Goldsby, PhD, CCRP (Family Psychiatry of The Woodlands)
Description: This is an evidence-based guide to building a strong therapeutic alliance between therapist and patient, which is a fundamental component in the task of successfully reaching identified treatment goals. Therapeutic outcome is discussed in great detail as it directly relates to the strength or weakness of the therapeutic relationship. This book is a well-researched guideline, or training tool based on empirical findings, for therapists who wish to better understand and implement the techniques used for building a therapeutic alliance with patients.
Purpose: The editors make it clear that the purpose is to provide an evidence-based approach to the therapeutic alliance - specifying practice and training guidelines from various psychotherapy orientations that can be supported by the research literature.
Audience: Written as a guide for clinical practitioners, this book will be of most interest to professionals in clinical and counseling psychology, psychiatrists, social worker, and other mental health practitioners. Educators may find this book to be an excellent instructive text for graduate courses in clinically oriented courses.
Features: The book is divided into three main sections, covering critical studies of the therapeutic alliance, practice and the therapeutic alliance, and training programs on the therapeutic alliance. One of the key features is the introduction and explanation of the main concepts associated with alliance theory. Each of the 17 chapters is authored by respected researchers and scholars in the field who use empirical support to discuss the practical application techniques of the therapeutic alliance. The latest research findings and the implications for clinical practice are discussed in detail. Various therapeutic modalities such as psychodynamic theory, interpersonal approaches, cognitive and behavioral therapies, humanistic psychotherapy, and couple, family, and group therapies are highlighted through case study dialogue of patient and practitioner alliance-building in each discipline.
Assessment: Beginning with the first sentence the therapist utters to the patient, he or she is building a relational structure for the treatment. A strong therapeutic alliance is the basis for successful treatment outcomes and this book is a phenomenal resource for therapists wanting to learn or improve upon the skill set required for building such an alliance. This definitive book informs, teaches, and defines the guidelines and empirically-based techniques used to form the therapeutic alliance. I highly recommend this book for novice and seasoned therapists alike as a must-have, evidence-based guide to promote effective clinical care.

Doody's Review Service