J. Christopher Muran & Jacques P. Barber 
The Therapeutic Alliance 
An Evidence-Based Guide to Practice

This state-of-the-art book presents research-based practice guidelines that clinicians of any orientation can use to optimize the therapeutic alliance. Leading proponents of the major psychotherapeutic approaches explain just what a good alliance is, how to create it, and how to recognize and repair alliance ruptures. Applications in individual, group, couple, and family therapy are explored; case examples vividly illustrate the concepts and techniques. Links between the quality of the alliance and client outcomes are elucidated. A section on training fills a major gap in the field, reviewing proven strategies for helping therapists to develop key relationship-building skills.

Table of Content

An Introduction: Establishing the Context and Rationale,
J. Christopher Muran and
Jacques P. Barber


I. Critical Studies of the Therapeutic Alliance


1. Alliance Theory and Measurement,
Robert L. Hatcher


2. The Validity of the Alliance as a Predictor of Psychotherapy Outcome,
Jacques P. Barber,
Shabad-Ratan Khalsa, and
Brian A. Sharpless


3. The Alliance over Time,
William B. Stiles and
Jacob Z. Goldsmith


4. Qualitative Studies of Negative Experiences in Psychotherapy,
Clara E. Hill


5. Alliance Ruptures and Resolution,
Catherine Eubanks-Carter,
J. Christopher Muran, and
Jeremy D. Safran


II. Practice and the Therapeutic Alliance


6. A Psychodynamic Perspective on the Therapeutic Alliance: Theory, Research, and Practice,
Stanley
B. Messer and
David L. Wolitzky


7. An Interpersonal Perspective on Therapy Alliances and Techniques,
Lorna Smith Benjamin and
Kenneth L. Critchfield


8. The Therapeutic Alliance in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy,
Louis G. Castonguay,
Michael J. Constantino,
Andrew A. Mc Aleavey, and
Marvin R. Goldfried


9. A Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) Approach to the Therapeutic Alliance,
Mavis Tsai,
Robert J. Kohlenberg, and
Jonathan W. Kanter


10. The Therapeutic Alliance in Humanistic Psychotherapy,
Jeanne C. Watson and
Freda Kalogerakos


11. Therapeutic Alliances in Couple Therapy: The Web of Relationships,
Adam O. Horvath,
Dianne Symonds, and
Luis Tapia


12. Therapeutic Alliances and Alliance Building in Family Therapy,
Valentín Escudero,
Laurie Heatherington, and
Myrna L. Friedlander


13. The Therapeutic Alliance in Group Therapy,
William E. Piper and
John S. Ogrodniczuk


III. Training Programs on the Therapeutic Alliance


14. Developing Skills in Managing Negative Process,
Jeffrey L. Binder and
William P. Henry


15. Training in Alliance-Fostering Techniques,
Paul Crits-Christoph,
Katherine Crits-Christoph, and
Mary Beth Connolly Gibbons


16. Developing Therapist Abilities to Negotiate Alliance Ruptures,
J. Christopher Muran,
Jeremy D. Safran, and
Catherine Eubanks-Carter


17. Coda: Recommendations for Practice and Training,
Brian A. Sharpless,
J. Christopher Muran, and
Jacques P. Barber

About the author

J. Christopher Muran, Ph D, is Associate Dean and Professor at the Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies and Director of the Psychotherapy Research Program at Beth Israel Medical Center. His research and publications have concentrated on developing intervention and training models relating to the therapeutic alliance. Dr. Muran is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and coeditor of the journal
Psychotherapy Research.

Jacques P. Barber, Ph D, ABPP, is Professor Emeritus and Dean Emeritus of the Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology at Adelphi University. He is also Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at New York University and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry and in the Graduate Psychology Group at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Barber is past president of the International Society for Psychotherapy Research and a recipient of its Outstanding Early Career Award and Distinguished Research Career Award. He has published numerous articles and books on topics including psychodynamic therapy, psychotherapy research, and the therapeutic alliance.