How do therapists ally with adolescents in family therapy? An examination of relational control communication in early sessions

Journal of Counseling Psychology
Cristina Muñiz de la PeñaLaurie Heatherington

Abstract

Sequential analyses examined associations between the working alliance and therapist-adolescent communication patterns in 10 Spanish cases of brief conjoint family therapy. Early sessions with strong versus problematic alliances, rated by observers, were selected for coding of relational control communication patterns. No differences were found in the frequency of exchanges, but competitive responding by the therapists (reflecting an interpersonal struggle for control) was significantly more likely in problematic alliance sessions than in strong alliance sessions. Cases in which the adolescent's alliance with the therapist remained positive from Session 1 as compared with Session 3 showed a decrease in the likelihood of competitive symmetry. Notably, when the quality of the alliance deteriorated over time, the therapists were increasingly more likely to respond to the adolescents' domineering messages in a competitive manner. Results underscore the need to avoid competitive responding in order to ally with adolescents in conjoint family treatment.

Citations

Apr 24, 2014·Journal of Nursing Scholarship : an Official Publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing·Laura Cox DzurecRaya Albataineh
Dec 17, 2014·Psychotherapy Research : Journal of the Society for Psychotherapy Research·Laurie HeatheringtonWilliam M Pinsof
May 28, 2019·Frontiers in Psychology·Elsheba K AbrahamRoseanne J Foti
Mar 26, 2021·International Journal of Mental Health Nursing·Rachael RyanSamantha Hartley

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