O N G O I N G R E S E A R C H
Segment Working Alliance Inventory: Observer-rated
Elizabeth Berk
My research involves investigating fluctuations in the quality of the working alliance within therapy sessions (rather than over the course of treatment). For this purpose I developed an observer-based coding system (The Segment Working Alliance Inventory - Observer Based; SWAI-O), which evaluates the quality of the alliance within five-minute segments. My Master's thesis involved the first step in the development of the SWAI-O, and establishment of it psychometric properties. For my Ph.D. dissertation, I am refining and further evaluating the reliability and validity of the SWAI-O, and employing it to evaluate the effectiveness of a training procedure for enhancing therapists' abilities to resolve ruptures in the therapeutic alliance.
My research involves investigating fluctuations in the quality of the working alliance within therapy sessions (rather than over the course of treatment). For this purpose I developed an observer-based coding system (The Segment Working Alliance Inventory - Observer Based; SWAI-O), which evaluates the quality of the alliance within five-minute segments. My Master's thesis involved the first step in the development of the SWAI-O, and establishment of it psychometric properties. For my Ph.D. dissertation, I am refining and further evaluating the reliability and validity of the SWAI-O, and employing it to evaluate the effectiveness of a training procedure for enhancing therapists' abilities to resolve ruptures in the therapeutic alliance.
Supervisory Alliance
Kelly Bolger
My research focuses on the relationship between the working alliance and the supervisory alliance. For my Master's thesis I found preliminary evidence that therapists who are receiving training in the use of alliance rupture resolution skills, are more likely to develop positive working alliances with their patients when they rate their own alliances with their supervisors positively. For my Ph.D. dissertation I will be extending this work, and also examining interactions between training modality, working alliance, and supervisory alliance.
My research focuses on the relationship between the working alliance and the supervisory alliance. For my Master's thesis I found preliminary evidence that therapists who are receiving training in the use of alliance rupture resolution skills, are more likely to develop positive working alliances with their patients when they rate their own alliances with their supervisors positively. For my Ph.D. dissertation I will be extending this work, and also examining interactions between training modality, working alliance, and supervisory alliance.
Therapist Capacity for Affectively Grounded Reflection on the Therapeutic Relationship
Catherine Boutwell
In general, my research interests focus on therapist variables and their contribution to the therapeutic relationship. For my Master’s thesis, I explored the role that alliance-focused training plays in psychotherapy process and outcome. Specifically tested the hypothesis that therapists who receive alliance- focused training show an increase in Experiencing level (EXP; Klein, Mathieu-Coughlan, & Kiesler, !986) when reflecting on their own relationships with their patients. For my Ph.D. dissertation I will be extending this research, and also attempt to replicate preliminary evidence emerging from our lab that therapists' capacity for high EXP during interviews about their relationships with their patients, is predictive of higher levels of alliance rupture resolution over the course of treatment.
In general, my research interests focus on therapist variables and their contribution to the therapeutic relationship. For my Master’s thesis, I explored the role that alliance-focused training plays in psychotherapy process and outcome. Specifically tested the hypothesis that therapists who receive alliance- focused training show an increase in Experiencing level (EXP; Klein, Mathieu-Coughlan, & Kiesler, !986) when reflecting on their own relationships with their patients. For my Ph.D. dissertation I will be extending this research, and also attempt to replicate preliminary evidence emerging from our lab that therapists' capacity for high EXP during interviews about their relationships with their patients, is predictive of higher levels of alliance rupture resolution over the course of treatment.
The Impact of Alliance-focused Training on Therapist-Patient Interpersonal Process
Anthony DeMaria
Research has consistently shown the quality of the therapeutic alliance to be a robust predictor of treatment outcome. Safran and Muran (2000) have developed an alliance-focused treatment approach that trains therapists to augment other therapeutic skills with skills that focus on detecting and resolving therapeutic impasses and alliance ruptures. My research examines the effect of this training on patient and therapist interpersonal process. To assess interpersonal process, I am using a modified version of the Quantitative Assessment of Interpersonal Theme, or QUAINT ( Baranackie & Crits-Christoph, 1992) , which applies items of the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB) (Benjamin, 1982) to Luborsky's (1977) Core Conflictual Relationship Themes format. My Master's thesis research found preliminary evidence of a relationship between alliance-focused training and positive shifts in patterns of therapist-patient interpersonal process. My Ph.D. dissertation will extend this research, and also examine the relationship between quality of therapist-patient interpersonal process and treatment outcome.
Research has consistently shown the quality of the therapeutic alliance to be a robust predictor of treatment outcome. Safran and Muran (2000) have developed an alliance-focused treatment approach that trains therapists to augment other therapeutic skills with skills that focus on detecting and resolving therapeutic impasses and alliance ruptures. My research examines the effect of this training on patient and therapist interpersonal process. To assess interpersonal process, I am using a modified version of the Quantitative Assessment of Interpersonal Theme, or QUAINT ( Baranackie & Crits-Christoph, 1992) , which applies items of the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB) (Benjamin, 1982) to Luborsky's (1977) Core Conflictual Relationship Themes format. My Master's thesis research found preliminary evidence of a relationship between alliance-focused training and positive shifts in patterns of therapist-patient interpersonal process. My Ph.D. dissertation will extend this research, and also examine the relationship between quality of therapist-patient interpersonal process and treatment outcome.
Alliance Negotiation Scale (ANS)
Jennifer Doran
My research involves investigating how therapists and patients negotiate alliance ruptures over the course of psychotherapy. For my Master's thesis I developed the Alliance Negotiation Scale (ANS) - a patient self-report measure designed to assess the therapist's capacity to negotiate the tasks and goals of treatment with the patient in a flexible and constructive fashion. I found preliminary evidence of reliability and construct validity of the measure. For my Ph.D. dissertation I am extending this research by collecting further evidence regarding the psychometric properties of the ANS, and evaluating the ability of the ANS to predict treatment outcome in short-term therapy.
My research involves investigating how therapists and patients negotiate alliance ruptures over the course of psychotherapy. For my Master's thesis I developed the Alliance Negotiation Scale (ANS) - a patient self-report measure designed to assess the therapist's capacity to negotiate the tasks and goals of treatment with the patient in a flexible and constructive fashion. I found preliminary evidence of reliability and construct validity of the measure. For my Ph.D. dissertation I am extending this research by collecting further evidence regarding the psychometric properties of the ANS, and evaluating the ability of the ANS to predict treatment outcome in short-term therapy.
Patients Seeking Multiple Courses of Short-term Treatment
Laura Kohberger
My current research interest concerns a particular sample of patients and their unique experience of short term psychotherapy. After years of acquiring clinical data as a part of the Brief Psychotherapy Program at Beth Israel Medical Center, a phenomenon emerged in which patients seeking short-term psychotherapy have returned to our research program for a second or third round of short-term therapy. This presents us with an opportunity to study patients that have worked with more than one therapist and in more than one therapy modalities. Furthermore it raises a number of interesting questions regarding what type of patients would purposely seek short-term treatment more than one time. I am interested in further investigating this phenomenon and any commonalities between these patients and their experiences of short- term psychotherapy. Furthermore I am interested in assessing the numerous ways in which the therapeutic process may differ for patients with different therapists and modalities.
My current research interest concerns a particular sample of patients and their unique experience of short term psychotherapy. After years of acquiring clinical data as a part of the Brief Psychotherapy Program at Beth Israel Medical Center, a phenomenon emerged in which patients seeking short-term psychotherapy have returned to our research program for a second or third round of short-term therapy. This presents us with an opportunity to study patients that have worked with more than one therapist and in more than one therapy modalities. Furthermore it raises a number of interesting questions regarding what type of patients would purposely seek short-term treatment more than one time. I am interested in further investigating this phenomenon and any commonalities between these patients and their experiences of short- term psychotherapy. Furthermore I am interested in assessing the numerous ways in which the therapeutic process may differ for patients with different therapists and modalities.
Rupture Resolution Rating System (3RS)
Allison Mitchell
3RS is an observer based psychotherapy process measure. We watch video taped therapy sessions and code for the presence of patient rupture markers and therapist resolution strategies. The coding yields an overall session rating for confrontation rupture and withdrawl rupture. These ratings refer to how much each type of rupture impacted the alliance during the session. We also get overall session ratings that reflect the frequency of each therapist resolution strategy as well as one overall rating regarding how resolved the rupture was within the session.
3RS is an observer based psychotherapy process measure. We watch video taped therapy sessions and code for the presence of patient rupture markers and therapist resolution strategies. The coding yields an overall session rating for confrontation rupture and withdrawl rupture. These ratings refer to how much each type of rupture impacted the alliance during the session. We also get overall session ratings that reflect the frequency of each therapist resolution strategy as well as one overall rating regarding how resolved the rupture was within the session.
Therapist Capacity for Reflective Functioning & Psychotherapy Process
Romy Reading
My research examines the variable of Reflective Functioning (RF) in therapists, which refers to the “mental function which organizes the experience of one’s own and others’ behavior in terms of mental state constructs” (Fonagy, Target, Steele, & Steele, 1998). Currently I lead a coding group in which we assess therapist reflective functioning by utilizing the Reflective Functioning Coding scale (Fonagy, Target, Steele, & Steele, 1998). Interviews with the therapist are coded for RF, and therapist RF will be examined in the relationship to variables of therapeutic process and outcome as it is expected that this capacity with in therapists will affect the ways in which the therapeutic process unfolds.
My research examines the variable of Reflective Functioning (RF) in therapists, which refers to the “mental function which organizes the experience of one’s own and others’ behavior in terms of mental state constructs” (Fonagy, Target, Steele, & Steele, 1998). Currently I lead a coding group in which we assess therapist reflective functioning by utilizing the Reflective Functioning Coding scale (Fonagy, Target, Steele, & Steele, 1998). Interviews with the therapist are coded for RF, and therapist RF will be examined in the relationship to variables of therapeutic process and outcome as it is expected that this capacity with in therapists will affect the ways in which the therapeutic process unfolds.
Pseudo-Alliance and Relapse
Alexandra Shaker
Currently, my research is focused on investigating the relationship between relapse following psychotherapy and the pseudo-alliance. I am in the process of conducting a pilot study using video data from the Brief Psychotherapy Research Program that examines the nature of the therapeutic alliance over the course of treatment in patients who experienced relapse six months following the end of therapy.
Currently, my research is focused on investigating the relationship between relapse following psychotherapy and the pseudo-alliance. I am in the process of conducting a pilot study using video data from the Brief Psychotherapy Research Program that examines the nature of the therapeutic alliance over the course of treatment in patients who experienced relapse six months following the end of therapy.
Cross-Cultural Research on the Therapeutic Alliance
Vanina Waizmann
In Argentina, I was a teacher, clinician and researcher. In 2008, I came to Dr. Safran’s lab for a couple of months to do some research and learn about 3RS (Eubanks-Carter, Mitchell, Muran & Safran, 2010). My aim was to adapt in Spanish and use it for my dissertation. Since then, I have been going back and forth and have done research in Dr. Safran’s lab and as well as in other research labs in Argentina. My research area is the study of psychotherapeutic interventions and their relationship with Therapeutic Alliance in cognitive and psychoanalytic psychotherapies. I have done a Spanish version of 3RS (S3R, Sistema de Ranqueo y Resolución de Rupturas, Waizmann and Roussos, 2009) and helped the development of the Alliance Negotiation Scale (Doran, Waizmann, Bolger & Safran, 2010). Currently, I am working in the adaptation of ANS in Spanish.
In Argentina, I was a teacher, clinician and researcher. In 2008, I came to Dr. Safran’s lab for a couple of months to do some research and learn about 3RS (Eubanks-Carter, Mitchell, Muran & Safran, 2010). My aim was to adapt in Spanish and use it for my dissertation. Since then, I have been going back and forth and have done research in Dr. Safran’s lab and as well as in other research labs in Argentina. My research area is the study of psychotherapeutic interventions and their relationship with Therapeutic Alliance in cognitive and psychoanalytic psychotherapies. I have done a Spanish version of 3RS (S3R, Sistema de Ranqueo y Resolución de Rupturas, Waizmann and Roussos, 2009) and helped the development of the Alliance Negotiation Scale (Doran, Waizmann, Bolger & Safran, 2010). Currently, I am working in the adaptation of ANS in Spanish.
