Leiden University Student Repository

Boendermaker, Nic (2024)

Examining the relationship between therapeutic alliance ruptures and psychotherapeutic outcomes: A meta-analysis

Master thesis | Psychology (MSc)

Psychotherapy necessarily involves a relationship between a therapist and a client. In examining this relationship, researchers address what is referred to as the therapeutic alliance. Contemporary research established this alliance as an important common factor that has a significant effect on therapeutic outcomes. An alliance rupture is defined as a breakdown in agreement on therapeutic goals or tasks or of the therapeutic bond. Such ruptures are a near inevitable aspect of the therapeutic process. Distinct from existing meta-analyses which explored the relationship of rupture repairs on outcomes, the present research examines the effect that alliance ruptures themselves, identified through direct measures, have on therapeutic outcomes. Five studies were included in the meta-analysis (N = 366). A multilevel model was used to determine an aggregate effect size of ruptures on outcome across the included studies. In agreement with the paper’s hypothesis, the analysis showed a small...Show morePsychotherapy necessarily involves a relationship between a therapist and a client. In examining this relationship, researchers address what is referred to as the therapeutic alliance. Contemporary research established this alliance as an important common factor that has a significant effect on therapeutic outcomes. An alliance rupture is defined as a breakdown in agreement on therapeutic goals or tasks or of the therapeutic bond. Such ruptures are a near inevitable aspect of the therapeutic process. Distinct from existing meta-analyses which explored the relationship of rupture repairs on outcomes, the present research examines the effect that alliance ruptures themselves, identified through direct measures, have on therapeutic outcomes. Five studies were included in the meta-analysis (N = 366). A multilevel model was used to determine an aggregate effect size of ruptures on outcome across the included studies. In agreement with the paper’s hypothesis, the analysis showed a small but consistent positive relationship between ruptures and therapeutic outcomes where increased ruptures correlated with greater impairment in outcomes.Show less

rupture, psychotherapy outcomes, meta-analysis, therapeutic alliance, common factors

Author

Boendermaker, Nic

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Clinical Psychology

Supervisors

Anna Babl

ECTS Credits

20

Language

en