Clients' and therapists' perceptions of intrasessional connection: an analogue study of change over time, predictor variables, and level of consensus.
Clients' and therapists' within-session experiences of relational connection were investigated using an analogue design. Eighty "therapist-client" dyads rated, on a minute-by-minute basis, their levels of connection to the other over a 20 minute counselling session. Therapists' and clients' feelings of connection increased over time with a negatively accelerating curve. Clients experienced a greater increase in feelings of connection with therapists that they perceived as less anxious; while older therapists, and therapists who believed they were perceived as more agreeable, experienced a deeper connection. Clients' and therapists' perception of connection were significantly associated, with a median within-dyad correlation of .76.
Counselling Unit, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. mick.cooper@strath.ac.uk
Mick
M
Cooper
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy; D013997:Time Factors