ERIC Number: EJ992676
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Oct
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-006X
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Therapist and Patient Perceptions of Alliance and Progress in Psychological Therapy for Women Diagnosed with Gynecological Cancers
Manne, Sharon L.; Kashy, Deborah A.; Rubin, Stephen; Hernandez, Enrique; Bergman, Cynthia
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, v80 n5 p800-810 Oct 2012
Objective: The goal was to understand both therapist and patient perspectives on alliance and session progress for women in treatment for gynecological cancer. We used a longitudinal version of the one-with-many design to partition variation in alliance and progress ratings into therapist, patient/dyad, and time-specific components. We also evaluated therapist and patient characteristics that predict alliance and session progress. Method: Two hundred and three women and their therapists completed measures of alliance and session progress across a 6-session course of treatment. Participants also completed preintervention measures of self-esteem, depression, cancer-specific distress, emotional expressivity, and use of protective buffering. Results: Patients reported higher alliance and greater progress than did therapists. When therapists reported particularly strong alliance with particular patients, those patients concurred. More experienced therapists reported higher alliances and more progress but their patients did not agree. Patients who began treatment in more difficult psychosocial circumstances tended to have less positive session outcomes on average but evidenced more improvement across therapy sessions. Conclusions: Patients rated their alliance and progress more positively than did their therapists, although there was substantial relative agreement between therapists and patients. Alliance and progress improved over time, particularly among patients who evidenced higher levels of distress and poorer physical functioning. More experienced therapists were more confident in their abilities but their patients did not share this perception. (Contains 5 tables and 3 footnotes.)
Descriptors: Females, Therapy, Depression (Psychology), Cancer, Patients, Outcomes of Treatment, Counselor Client Relationship, Gynecology, Prediction, Measures (Individuals), Self Esteem, Emotional Disturbances, Physical Health, Counselor Attitudes
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org/publications
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A