SESSION IMPACT, WORKING ALLIANCE, AND TREATMENT OUTCOME IN BRIEF COUNSELING

Associations among working alliance, session evaluations over the course of brief counseling, and counseling outcome were examined. At a training clinic, 61 clients and student counselors from 41 dyads completed ratings of session depth, smoothness, positivity, and arousal after their first 12 sessions. Alliance ratings were completed after the 4th session and at termination. Clients and counselors also provided 5 measures of counseling outcome. Results indicated that session evaluations were significantly related to later alliance ratings, and positive alliance ratings predicted subsequent session evaluations. Both linear and curvilinear session effects were suggested. Associations for client ratings were generally stronger than for counselor ratings. Both alliance and session evaluations were significant unique predictors of client-rated outcome, but only alliance predicted counselor-rated outcome.