Interpersonal Problems, Working Alliance, and Outcome in Short-term Experiential Therapy

Abstract

This study examines the relationships among interpersonal problems, alliance, and outcome in experiential therapy for resolving “unfinished business” with a significant other person. Thirty-three clients completed the Working Alliance Inventory after the third and final sessions of therapy, and outcome questionnaires before and after therapy. These included the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, the SASB Introject, the Unfinished Business Resolution scale, and the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP). Eight subscales, and dominance and affiliation scores derived from the IIP, were the interpersonal predictor variables. Results indicated that interpersonal problems related to hostility, as well as coldness, social avoidance, and nonassertiveness were predictive of the alliance in this type of therapy. Overall, social/emotional avoidance rather than control/hostility appear to be the crucial alliance issue in this presenting problem and therapy. None of the interpersonal variables were significantly related...