Therapeutic Alliance Theory

If the Adlerian therapy is summarized, it can be added here that the therapy is more of a growth plan. One of the main facts that is stressed by the theory is that human beings are in control of their own nature and that there should be a positive view towards the nature. Views that an individual has towards his nature leads him in having a good or bad faith. Being a child, a certain kind of lifestyle is adopted by an individual and this kind of lifestyle goes on in a consistent manner throughout his life (Carlson, Watts, and Maniacci, 2006, p. 45).

Alfred Adler was the founding father of individual psychology. Adler believed in the importance of social connections and childhood development. A few examples of Alfred Adler’s theories include the following: Style of life and unity of the individual, which was based on emotions, thinking and a person’s feelings, can be understood to the individual’s style of life, or a pattern that is consistent of dealing with life. This theory includes a personal goal, self-concept, attitude and empathy towards the world. Individuals express this through a way where it is a struggle to solve problems of neighbors, occupation or sex/love. Adler’s theories also include creative power, which is used for inner freedom that encourages each individual to create their own life style. This theory gives an individual control over their life and makes the individual accountable for their final goal. Overall, the theory plays a part of the development towards social interest. It

In reality therapy, it is suggested that we slowly begin to appreciate the counselor for trying to develop a working and therapeutic relationship. According to Corey, “It is from this mildly confrontive yet always non-criticizing, non-blaming, non-complaining, caring environment that clients learn to create the satisfying environment that leads to successful relationships” (2013, p. 343). I just wanted to reiterate how important I felt the therapeutic alliance is in reality therapy. When this is established, we are then able to move toward real healing.

Data collected from Sharpley, Fairnie, Tabary-Collins, Bates, and Lee (2000), suggest that strengthening a rapport with an individual is paramount to the therapeutic alliance and is the contributing factor of whether the person perceives the counselor to be influential to determine if the session was successful. To be a competent counselor, he or she should use open-ended questions, reflective statements of feelings, paraphrase key components of the conversation and utilize minimal encouragers to enable ability to strengthen a rapport with a person (Sharpley, Fairnie, Tabary-Collins, Bates, and Lee, 2000). This is an essential characteristic trait an effective counselor should adopt as often the individuals we serve have low-self esteem and encounter difficulties managing or reducing their symptomology, which could implicate the therapeutic alliance. By establishing and strengthening a rapport with an individual, that creates a framework for the counselor to set realistic goals to improve the person's

First are the goals that the client and therapist share for the treatment and to what extent they are cohesive in their combined expectations. Next the focus falls upon the tasks that are being accomplished or worked towards by everyone involved. Last we look to the strength and intimacy of the bonds that have been forged between the clients and therapist. The bond becomes increasing stronger when everyone involved feels, safe, invested, engaged and present with each other. The task of alliance forming takes on a entirely new and challenging form when counseling couples and families rather than an individual. In order for psychotherapy to be most effective strong alliances must be formed between everyone. Without the alliance there's little chance of change. This has been

The therapeutic alliance is the foundation for successful or unsuccessful treatment engagement (Sprenkle et al., 2009). The extent to which clients are able to engage with the therapist, will likely determine the expanse of participation and commitment they will attribute to therapy (Sprenkle et al., 2009), or social work intervention in its entirety. To elaborate, consider patients diagnosed with CKD. CKD is a primarily asymptomatic, but progressive and physiologically degenerative disease; if specific protocols to maintain sufficient kidney function are not adhered to (Collins et al., 2003). One may assume, these patients may feel intrinsically oppressed by their diagnosis, because they are typically advised to make specific

At times, I often refer back to my present job. My most difficult task is trying my best to make everyone happy. Although this is a weakness on my part, I realize, in order for my clients to become successful in therapy, I must develop stronger methods of confidence building skills. In order for my group to achieve positive change, it is my responsibility to understand the theory behind what I practice as a counselor. Therefore, I must become fully aware of how things are happing in the group, through group process and technique (Corey, Corey, & Corey, 2010,). The idea for empathy is important, however is not the major component. Organizing the necessary skills and utilizing the correct theory, assessments, and treatments will correlate with 2009 CACREP Standards for marriage, couple, and Family counseling.

The therapeutic alliance also known as a therapeutic relationship is about how I as a clinician/therapist connects, behave and engage with a client and also how a client relates to the therapist (Harely Therapy, 2016). This relationship is collaborative. I remember going into the first session nervous and incompetent. In our first meeting, Sarah asked me, you are just a student and how can you help her. I remember telling her, I am being trained at university and also, I am working under the supervision of J*. I let her know that I will be transparent about things I don't know, and I will come back with answers in the next session or sessions. As Sarah shared her fears of

I truly enjoyed the conversation that I got to have with A.B. At times he was very open to sharing information with me about his family and girlfriend. However, at other times it was hard to talk to him, because of another patient on the unit wanting to play games with him. The conversation was a little broken off into sections, as sometimes we were interrupted. One important thing I forgot to ask, and should have asked was, if he felt like killing himself. I fear that my patient may fall back into his old ways and end up back at the emergency room, due to lack of support from his parents and his girlfriend addiction to drugs and him being around her a lot. I interpret that his main problem was with his family and their lack of support through

Writing this paper and trying to choose the theory that best suits me, I realized that no matter which theoretical orientation the therapist choses, warm, non-judgmental, productive therapeutic relationship, along with empathy, congruence and genuineness, are the foundations of counseling. However, it is essential to be comfortable with the techniques the chosen theory offers and to teach the client to produce healthier behaviors and beliefs; therefore, cognitive behavioral therapy is definitely compatible with my world of view.

As a clinician, the most important thing I can give my clients is to successfully build a solid therapeutic alliance. This can be achieved through rapport building skills, having the ability to be engaged in the continued personal growth of the client, and finally being totally empathic to the client’s needs.

This is a time of establishing rapport and a therapeutic relationship. This means essentially that the counsellor wants to be able to connect with the client, to listen attentively and try to understand empathetically what the client is communicating. It is a time of encouraging the client to explore their behaviour as the counsellor assists in giving guidance and clarity through paraphrasing and validation. This is a time of beginning to build a certain degree of safety, trust and confidence in a counsellor before the client is willing to explore fully what needs to be

According to Richard Watts, Adler believed that all people formed an individualized approach to life in the first six years of life (p. 141). Like Freud, Adler believed that perceptions of the past could have lasting influences and that we may not always be conscious of how these perceptions are influencing us (Watts, 2003). Adler believed that human nature was driven mostly by social aspects rather than sexual urges. He also believed that all actions were goal oriented in an attempt to better oneself (Carlson, 2017). Under the Adlerian idea of the inferiority complex, all humans feel inferior at birth and then constantly struggle to overcome these feelings throughout life; this is the driving force which causes us to excel (Watts, 2003).

There are basic critical elements that form this collaborative client-clinician relationship. These elements constitute the key factors that strengthen the therapeutic alliance. The elements include; the emotional bond and partnership, goals, tasks and the relationship history of the participants (Meissner, 1996). Goals as an element refers to the end result of the therapy. It involves what the client hopes to acquire from the therapy (Berzins, 2008). Therefore when the working alliance is being established, goals to be achieved must be considered. The client establishes this strong and trustworthy relationship knowing that something must be achieved at the end of the treatment session. The clinician must also know the goals and objectives

Adler stressed "choice and responsibility, meaning in life, striving for success, and those humans are motivated by primarily social relatedness, purposeful, and goal-oriented behavior" (Capuzzi & Gross, 2011, p. 114). Individual psychology of Adler, articulates that people are responsible for their thoughts, feelings, and actions, and have the will to create their personal lives, therefore, Adlerian crucial ground is based on the equation; if the individual can change their thinking ‘mistaken belief’ then they can modify their feelings and behavior (Corey, 2016).