title: The therapeutic alliance in home-based family therapy: is it predictive of outcome?
abstract: This study examined the association between the therapeutic alliance in family therapy and changes in symptom distress, interpersonal relationships, and family coping. The participants (N = 81) were members of low socioeconomic status families referred to a university clinic for in-home family therapy. Participants completed the Outcome Questionnaire, Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation, and the Family Therapy Alliance questionnaires. Regression analyses revealed that the therapeutic alliance explained 19% of the variance in symptom distress changes for mother, 55% for fathers, and 39% for adolescents. The implications of these findings for practicing and researching family therapy are presented.
authors.affiliation: School of Family Studies and Human Services, Kansas State University, USA. ljohnson@fcs.uga.edu
authors.forename: Lee N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ketring
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D011203:Poverty; D013811:Psychotherapeutic Processes; D012044:Regression Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome