Dr. McDonald has been working with Bob for a while in therapy. He thinks that they have a good working alliance, however Bob isn't quite as certain. What are the implications for Bob's treatment?
A)None - therapeutic alliance has little to do with outcome
B)None - the therapist's perception of the working alliance is more strongly related to positive outcome than the client's
C)His treatment may not be as successful as Dr. McDonald thinks it will be, as the client's perception of the working alliance is more strongly related to positive outcomes than the therapist's
D)His treatment will likely be successful, as Dr. McDonald is a skilled clinician

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The client's perception of the working alliance has been found to be a stronger predictor of positive treatment outcome than the therapist's perception. Therefore, if Bob doesn't feel that the working alliance is strong, it may indicate that his treatment may not be as successful as Dr. McDonald thinks it will be. It is important for the therapist to address any issues with the working alliance in order to improve the likelihood of positive treatment outcomes.

Dr McDonald Has Been Working with Bob for a While