Alliance-Focused Training as an Adjunct to CBT (1 CE)

Number of credits: 1

This course is for: Clinical Psychologists, Counselors, and MFTs

Course by: Rachel Schoor, PhD

Content by: Muran, J. C., Safran, J. D., Eubanks, C. F., & Gorman, B. S. (2018). The effect of alliance-focused training on a cognitive-behavioral therapy for personality disorders. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 86(4), 384. 

Course description: An alliance focused training was developed and administered to participants in conjunction with a 30-session cognitive behavioral therapy intervention (CBT). Researchers theorized that the alliance focused training would improve interactions between therapists and patients rendering the CBT intervention more effective. The training was designed to improve therapists’ competence in repairing therapeutic alliance ruptures. The study was conducted in a medical outpatient setting with 40 patients previously diagnosed with both Axis I and II mental health disorders. The patients were treated by 40 therapists; each patient was treated by a different therapist. A multiple baseline study design was implemented, and a simplified version of the Structural Analyses of Social Behavior measure was used to assess the interpersonal behavior between patient and therapist via videotaped counseling session recordings. The training predicted decreases in patient dependence and therapist control (i.e., criticism), increases in therapist affirmation, and increases in patient and therapist expressiveness. Several of these variables were also associated with better treatment outcomes at the individual session level and across overall outcomes. The study demonstrates that alliance focused training may be beneficial for improving interpersonal interactions between therapists and patients, including patients with personality disorders. 

Learning objectives

• Describe at least 4 principles associated with alliance focused training
• List at least 3 behaviors that constitute a therapeutic rupture in the patient-therapist relationship
• Identify 3 study strengths and 3 weaknesses

Course Outline

• Read and understand The effect of alliance focused training on a cognitive-behavioral therapy for personality disorders
• Read the course description and learning objectives
• Consider the study strengths and limitations, as well as issues concerning the generalizability of study results
• Work through the post-test questions; keep in mind that answer selections should be derived from the respective article
• Return to the referenced article for any missed questions and/or to better understand the added value of alliance focused training on cognitive-behavioral therapy outcomes

Approvals: