Terapötik ilişkinin danışan ve terapist açısından incelenmesi

The therapeutic alliance is among the most critical aspects of therapy, which brings about change and a positive outcome. The literature regarding therapeutic alliance is mainly focused on individual sessions; therefore, the alliance in couples therapy is investigated less in comparison. This study examined the trajectory of therapeutic alliance in the initial phase of couples therapy conducted in two Turkish university clinics. The observer version of the System for Observing Family Therapy Alliances (SOFTA-o) provided a medium for interpreting the video recordings from those two clinics. Four dimensions of SOFTA (Engagement, Emotional Connection, Safety, and Shared Sense of Purpose) were focused on in the study. A General Linear Model was used to understand the pattern of the therapeutic relationship with the effect of role and session being investigated. Bivariate correlations showed associations between client and therapist dimensions of Engagement and Emotional Connection, whereas the Safety dimension showed weaker patterns.