Therapist attachment and perceived working alliance among student clinicians

Although the working alliance is consistently identified as a strong factor in successful treatment outcome, relatively few studies have examined the role of therapists’ attachment style in its formation. The available research suggests that therapists' attachment styles influence their perception of working alliance quality (Black, Hardy, Turpin, & Parry, 2005), that insecure attachment in therapists’ contributes to weaker alliances (Sauer, Lopez, & Gormely, 2003; Black et al., 2005), and interaction effects between client and therapist attachment styles significantly influence the trajectory of working alliance development (Tyrell, Dozier, Teague, & Fallott, 1999). This study examines the relationship between therapist attachment style and perceived working alliance strength in response to vignettes of fictional therapeutic encounters. It was hypothesized that significant differences in working alliance strength would be detected among therapists’ based on their attachment style (i.e.,, Secure, Fearful, Preoccupied, and Dismissing). A sample of 72 graduatelevel psychology students were recruited by e-mail and provided with an on-line survey consisting of the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale (ECR), the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI), and two fictional vignettes. Analyses revealed no significant differences in perceived working alliance strength between the four attachment styles. The Bond subscale of the WAV, assumed to be most representative of attachment-related characteristics, was not significantly related to attachment style. Secure attachment had the highest representation within the sample (n= 33), but the distribution of this attachment style within the sample (45%) was not consistent with previous research (Leiper & Casares, 2000; Ligiero & Gelso, 2002). Implications of these findings, limitations and future research are discussed. Degree Type Dissertation Rights Terms of use for work posted in CommonKnowledge. Comments Library Use: LIH This dissertation is available at CommonKnowledge: http://commons.pacificu.edu/spp/381 Copyright and terms of use If you have downloaded this document directly from the web or from CommonKnowledge, see the “Rights” section on the previous page for the terms of use. If you have received this document through an interlibrary loan/document delivery service, the following terms of use apply: Copyright in this work is held by the author(s). You may download or print any portion of this document for personal use only, or for any use that is allowed by fair use (Title 17, §107 U.S.C.). Except for personal or fair use, you or your borrowing library may not reproduce, remix, republish, post, transmit, or distribute this document, or any portion thereof, without the permission of the copyright owner. [Note: If this document is licensed under a Creative Commons license (see “Rights” on the previous page) which allows broader usage rights, your use is governed by the terms of that license. ] Inquiries regarding further use of these materials should be addressed to: CommonKnowledge Rights, Pacific University Library, 2043 College Way, Forest Grove, OR 97116, (503) 352-7209. Email inquiries may be directed to:. copyright@pacificu.edu This dissertation is available at CommonKnowledge: http://commons.pacificu.edu/spp/381 THERAPIST ATTACHMENT AND PERCEIVED WORKING ALLIANCE AMONG STUDENT CLINICIANS