Effects of graduate clinicians' personal therapy on therapeutic alliance

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of clinician personal therapy on therapeutic alliance early in treatment. Therapists who had received personal therapy assessed 30 outpatients, and therapists who had not undergone personal therapy assessed 30 outpatients. These groups of patients were matched on key demographic, diagnostic and psychiatric severity data. Results demonstrated no significant group differences on patient-rated alliance. Significant differences were observed for the therapist-rated alliance variables of therapist confidence, goal and task agreement, as well as overall alliance, with higher scores from those therapists who had received personal therapy. In addition, significant differences were found in the number of therapy sessions attended, with the treatments of those therapists who had received personal therapy being twice as long. The impact of personal therapy in relation to structured training and a therapeutic model of assessment on graduate clinicians' ability to form positive collaborative relationships with their patients is discussed.

Dislikable Clients or Countertransference: A Clinician's Perspective

“…As with research regarding negative CT and client-clinician rapport, current research has found a link between training and treatment outcome (Bergin & Garfield, 1994; Gold & Hilsenroth, 2009; Harrison & Westwood, 2009; Minami et al, 2008). These findings are very important, as they allow us to understand a factor in how clinicians might mitigate experiences of negative CT. Gelso and Hayes (2002), in particular, found that the training used in supervision is a key factor in managing CT.…”

Therapeutic Alliance in the Personal Therapy of Graduate Clinicians: Relationship to the Alliance and Outcomes of Their Patients

“…We based this hypothesis on the finding that clinicians with personal therapy had higher therapist-rated alliances with their patients than clinicians with no personal therapy (Gold & Hilsenroth, 2009). This hypothesis was not supported.…”

“…Recently, Gold and Hilsenroth (2009) examined the impact of graduate therapists' personal therapy on the therapeutic alliance early in treatment. In each of the two groups of trainees, with and without personal therapy, 30 outpatients were treated with psychodynamic therapy, once or twice per week.…”

Personal Counseling in Academic Programs with Counselor Trainees

“…Although personal counseling has been endorsed (Hill, 2005;Kirsch, 2005;Laireiter & Willutzki, 2005;Lebow, 2005;Leech, 2007) and supports the personal and professional development of counselors, few counselors use personal counseling (Gold, 2010;Rake & Paley, 2009;Unkauf, 2010). Therefore the engagement in personal counseling needs to be examined.…”

“…When impairment is caused as a result of counseling practice, counselor trainees are often able to mitigate the negative effects of processing traumatic and upsetting client events through peer supervision (Dutton & Rubinstein, 1995), through professional supervision (Fernando & Hulse-Killacky, 2005), and other supports (Gold & Hilsenroth, 2009). However, sometimes these supports are not enough and so personal counseling may be helpful.…”