Client Factors That Predict the Therapeutic Alliance in a Chronic, Complex Trauma Sample

Catherine Reynolds, Jane Simms, Kevin Webb, Mary Corry, Brian McDermott, Margaret Ryan, Maria Shannon, Kevin F. W. Dyer

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Abstract

This investigation aimed to examine how specific client characteristics of individuals with chronic, complex trauma are associated with the type coping strategies they employ and the quality of the therapeutic alliance. Fifty-nine adult participants with diagnostic levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and who attended therapy for complex trauma in Northern Ireland were obtained via opportunity sampling. Participants completed self-report measures of client attachment style, alexithymia, coping strategies, and the therapeutic alliance. Preoccupied attachment factors such as “Need for Approval” and “Preoccupation with Relationships” were related to use of maladaptive coping strategies. In contrast, the adaptive coping strategies of “Acceptance” and “Instrumental Support” were significant predictors of a positive therapeutic alliance, whereas established psychological and traumatogenic factors (e.g., attachment, number of traumatic events) did not significantly predict the therapeutic alliance. The findings have implications for understanding the relationship between client characteristics and the therapeutic alliance within complex trauma populations, as well as developing protocols to assist this process.
Original languageEnglish
JournalTraumatology
Early online date24 Apr 2017
DOIs
Publication statusEarly online date - 24 Apr 2017

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Wounds and Injuries
Therapeutics
Northern Ireland
Affective Symptoms
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders
Self Report
Psychology
Population

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Reynolds, C., Simms, J., Webb, K., Corry, M., McDermott, B., Ryan, M., ... Dyer, K. F. W. (2017). Client Factors That Predict the Therapeutic Alliance in a Chronic, Complex Trauma Sample. Traumatology. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000114
Reynolds, Catherine ; Simms, Jane ; Webb, Kevin ; Corry, Mary ; McDermott, Brian ; Ryan, Margaret ; Shannon, Maria ; Dyer, Kevin F. W. / Client Factors That Predict the Therapeutic Alliance in a Chronic, Complex Trauma Sample. In: Traumatology. 2017.
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Reynolds, C, Simms, J, Webb, K, Corry, M, McDermott, B, Ryan, M, Shannon, M & Dyer, KFW 2017, 'Client Factors That Predict the Therapeutic Alliance in a Chronic, Complex Trauma Sample', Traumatology. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000114

Client Factors That Predict the Therapeutic Alliance in a Chronic, Complex Trauma Sample. / Reynolds, Catherine; Simms, Jane; Webb, Kevin; Corry, Mary; McDermott, Brian; Ryan, Margaret; Shannon, Maria; Dyer, Kevin F. W.

In: Traumatology, 24.04.2017.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

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Reynolds C, Simms J, Webb K, Corry M, McDermott B, Ryan M et al. Client Factors That Predict the Therapeutic Alliance in a Chronic, Complex Trauma Sample. Traumatology. 2017 Apr 24. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000114

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