A TRIPARTITE MODEL OF THE THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP: INTERRELATIONS AND SESSION OUTCOME

Abstract

The components of a tripartite model of the therapeutic relationship, namely the working alliance, the transference configuration, and the real relationship were examined in terms of how they relate to one another and to the outcome of a psychotherapy session. Licensed psychotherapists (n = 249) were recruited from two Divisions of the American Psychological Association. Therapists completed measures of the therapy relationship components and session outcome for the last session they had with a client. Results revealed that from the therapist's perspective the real relationship and working alliance related positively to session outcome, countertransference behavior related negatively to session outcome and transference did not relate to session outcome. The four components together contributed to 27 percent of the variance in session outcome. The components related to each other as predicted, and a principle components analysis revealed the presence of four distinct factors resembling the components of the tripartite model.