Advantages And Disadvantages Of Therapeutic Alliance

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Advantages and Disadvantages: Therapeutic Alliance
Dana Heim
October 14, 2017
HUMS 310
Columbia College

Abstract

Advantages and Disadvantages: Therapeutic Alliance There are a multitude of reasons why an individual may need or want therapy; whether it’s due to learning how to cope with a mental disorder or disability, life happenings such as traumas or abuse, addictions, or even PTSD. Anybody can receive it – individual persons, families, or groups. It isn’t hard to argue that most therapists and psychologists will agree that the therapeutic alliance is one of the most beneficial foundations of a therapy session. Also referred to as the working alliance or working relationship, it represents the bond between therapist and
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(Horvath and Greenberg, 1994) As Binder and Strupp (1997) have suggested, the outcome of the therapeutic alliance is highly connected with the therapist’s capability to recognize whether the treatment they have applied is helpful and if it isn’t how it could be changed in order to turn into a positive treatment. (Binder and Strupp, 1997) Furthermore, both statements suggest that there must be a close connection between the therapist and the family/person, which is being treated at the considered moment. Those texts could suggest that it is important to have a personal, yet professional connection with the “client” in order to achieve a positive outcome. However, this would mean that one must take their work life into their everyday life and engage with the patient even outside work hours and that would be crossing the professional boundaries. To give an example for a positive treatment which evolves into a negative, I would like to draw your attention to the Netflix Original Series - Atypical.
In the series, the main character is looking for connection, his therapist is being understanding and supportive of his choice to “put himself out there” and try to find a girlfriend, however, this results into the main character to find that person in her, instead. Although this helps him to evolve and be able to communicate with females, it “ruins” the alliance between him and his therapist
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