A systematic review of the effect of therapists’ internalised models of relationships on the quality of the therapeutic relationship

Steel, C.; Macdonald, J.; Schr�der, Thomas

Abstract

The quality of the therapeutic relationship has been identified as a key factor in predicting client outcomes, accounting for around 8% of variation (Horvath, Del Re, Flückiger, & Symonds, 2011; Martin, Garske, & Davis, 2000; Wampold, 2001). Although therapist factors have been seen as less relevant to therapeutic relationship quality than client factors, focus on therapist factors has steadily increased in line with the view that the therapist responds differently to different clients, due to their own personal characteristics and unconscious processes. Relational theory suggests that the therapist’s particular qualities combine with the client’s particular qualities to form a unique interpersonal context (e.g. Wachtel, 2008). Safran and Muran (2000) suggest that the interpersonal context is heavily influenced by client and therapist internalised patterns of relating formed in early childhood. Evidence shows that certain therapist factors do affect therapeutic relationship quality; the qualities of dependability, warmth and responsiveness in therapists have all been found to create stronger alliances (Ackerman & Hilsenroth, 2003). The importance of these mostly interpersonal characteristics imply that the internalised relational models of therapists may also be important in determining the type of relationship that is built and the therapeutic processes occurring within.

Citation

Steel, C., Macdonald, J., & Schröder, T. (2018). A systematic review of the effect of therapists’ internalised models of relationships on the quality of the therapeutic relationship. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 74(1), 5-42. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22484

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 14, 2017
• Online Publication Date: May 15, 2017
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Apr 3, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: May 15, 2017
• Journal: Journal of Clinical Psychology
• Print ISSN: 0021-9762
• Electronic ISSN: 1097-4679
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 74
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 5-42
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22484
• Keywords: attachment, therapeutic relationship, working alliance, alliance/therapeutic alliance
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/963609
• Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jclp.22484/full
• Additional Information: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Steel, C., Macdonald, J. and Schroder, T. (2017), A Systematic Review of the Effect of Therapists’ Internalized Models of Relationships on the Quality of the Therapeutic Relationship. J. Clin. Psychol.. doi:10.1002/jclp.22484 which has been published in final form at [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jclp.22484/full This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.