Studies characterization on therapeutic alliance measures: literature review

Authors

  • Nathalya Soares Ribeiro Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJF
  • Ana Paula Fernandes Torres Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora
  • Camila Alves Pedrosa Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJF
  • Júlia Dandara Fernandes da Silveira Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJF
  • Laisa Marcorela Andreoli Sartes Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJF

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4013/ctc.2019.121.13

Abstract

Therapeutic alliance has been considered an important mechanism in the psychotherapeutic process, with several measures to evaluate it. The objective of this study was to characterize these measures through a literature review. Indexed studies in PubMed, PsycArticles, and BVS databases were selected if they addressed psychometric analysis, the construction and /or adaptation of alliance measures. Bibliometric and quantitative and qualitative content analysis were conducted. Results pointed alliance measures ranged in various ways, as by clients, therapists and observers, and based on different theoretical models. Overall, they presented adequate psychometric properties. Nonetheless, important factorial structure problems were found. For future studies, we suggest further discussion on the relationship between therapeutic alliance, psychotherapeutic approaches, and client clinical condition. Understanding of the alliance dynamics in the psychotherapeutic process is still unclear and depends on the study of validity evidences of alliance measures. Researchers should pay attention on the proposal and the aims of the alliance evaluation in order to define the most congruent instrument.

Keywords: therapeutic alliance; psychotherapeutic processes; psychometric

Author Biographies

Nathalya Soares Ribeiro, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJF

Graduada em Psicologia pela Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJF. Mestranda em Psicologia pelo Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia da UFJF.

Ana Paula Fernandes Torres, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora

Graduanda em Psicologia pela Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJF

Camila Alves Pedrosa, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJF

Graduanda em Psicologia pela Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJF

Júlia Dandara Fernandes da Silveira, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJF

Graduanda em Psicologia pela Universiadade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJF.

Laisa Marcorela Andreoli Sartes, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJF

Psicóloga graduada pela Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJF. Doutora em Ciências pelo Departamento de Psicobiologia da Universidade Federal de São Paulo - Unifesp. Professora Adjunta do Departamento de Psicologia da UFJF  e  professora e orientadora do Mestrado e Doutorado do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia da UFJF.

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Published

2019-04-08

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2019): Jan-Apr

Section

Articles

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