Relationships among client–therapist personality congruence, working alliance, and therapeutic outcome.

Abstract

Despite the importance of the working alliance in therapeutic outcome, little is known about the factors associated with its formation. We advance that personality similarity between client and therapist is one such factor pertinent to the working alliance. In this study, personality similarity in 32 client-therapist dyads was examined for its relations to the bond, task, and goal elements of the working alliance (Bordin, 1979, Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, and Practice, 16, 252-260) and therapeutic outcome. Personality similarity was conceptualized using Holland's (1997, Making vocational choices [3rd ed.]) congruence construct. Therapists completed the Self-Directed Search pretreatment and clients completed the Working Alliance Inventory-Short Revised and Self-Directed Search after the third session. Results indicated that (a) client-therapist personality congruence was associated with the bond, (b) bond was associated with task and goal, and (c) task and goal were associated with therapeutic outcome. Congruence was not associated with task, goal, or therapeutic outcome. Holland's theory provides a framework for adapting to clients of varying personality types. By understanding how client-therapist personalities relate to each other in therapy, client-therapist bonds may be more efficiently realized.

Do therapists' subjective variables impact on psychodynamic psychotherapy outcomes? A systematic literature review

“…Second, some variables included in this review have not yet been adequately studied. For example, most clinicians would endorse the view that the therapist's personality can play a significant role in therapy outcome (Arthur, ; Taber et al, ). Finally, it is critical that we do not lose sight of the equally important contribution of the patient in developing the therapeutic relationship and achieving better therapeutic outcomes.…”

“…For instance, Schaffer (1982) have not yet been adequately studied. For example, most clinicians would endorse the view that the therapist 0 s personality can play a significant role in therapy outcome (Arthur, 2001;Taber et al, 2011).…”

The working alliance: Where have we been, where are we going?

“…These inter-disorder differences highlight the complexities inherent in attempting to link specific pathologies to the working alliance. Additionally, research has demonstrated that personality similarity between patient and therapist may be an important factor, with more similar personalities resulting in a stronger working alliance (Taber, Leibert, & Agaskar, 2011).…”

Personality Styles of German-Speaking Psychotherapists Differ from a Norm, and Male Psychotherapists Differ from Their Female Colleagues

“…Such choices and attitudes can change not only in the course of training but even more importantly, in the course of professional life. The fit between the personalities of the patient and the therapist (Taber et al, 2011) and other topics like the patient’s symptom severity on outcome and alliance (Dinger et al, 2016) have been investigated. In the most recent decades the relationship between therapists’ personality characteristics, working alliance and outcome of psychotherapy also has been studied and reviewed (Ackerman and Hilsenroth, 2001, 2003; Orlinsky et al, 2004; Norcross and Wampold, 2011).…”