Synonyms
Therapeutic alliance repair; Working alliance repair; Working relationship repair
Introduction
The working relationship between client(s) and therapist, called the alliance, is one of the powerful common factors in successful psychotherapy (Friedlander et al. 2006). Problems in the alliance, called ruptures, are common and may occur for a variety of reasons. The process of rectifying such a rupture is called alliance repair. Repairs can take a variety of forms, depending on the rupture, but should be executed quickly according to the general guidelines described below.
Theoretical Context
Psychotherapy alliance is the working relationship between client and therapist. Edward Bordin (1979) defined alliance as agreement between client and therapist on the tasks and goals of therapy, in addition to the presence of an interpersonal bond. Agreement on tasks involves a shared understanding (between client(s) and therapist) of what is occurring in the therapy room (e.g., the choice...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Bordin, E. S. (1979). The generalizability of the psychoanalytic concept of the working alliance. Psychotherapy: Theory, research & practice, 16(3), 252.
Friedlander, M., Escudero, V., & Heatherington, L. (2006). Therapeutic alliances in couple and family therapy: An empirically informed guide to practice. Washington, DC: APA Press.
Pinsof, W. M., & Catherall, D. R. (1986). The integrative psychotherapy alliance: Family, couple and individual therapy scales*. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 12, 137–151. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.1986.tb01631.
Safran, J. D., Muran, J. C., & Eubanks-Carter, C. (2011). Repairing alliance ruptures. Psychotherapy, 48(1), 80–87.
Safran, J. D., & Muran, J. C. (2000). Negotiating the therapeutic alliance: A relational treatment guide. New York: Guilford.
Stiles, W. B., & Goldsmith, J. Z. (2010). The alliance over time. In J. Muran, J. P. Barber, J. Muran, & J. P. Barber (Eds.), The therapeutic alliance: An evidence-based guide to practice (pp. 44–62). New York: Guilford.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Goldsmith, J.Z. (2019). Alliance Repair in Couple and Family Therapy. In: Lebow, J.L., Chambers, A.L., Breunlin, D.C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_556
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_556
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-49423-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-49425-8
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences