The Therapeutic Bond Scales: Psychometric Characteristics and Relationship to Treatment Effectiveness

Authors

Stephen M. Saunders, Marquette UniversityFollow
Kenneth I. Howard, Northwestern University
David E. Orlinsky, University of Chicago

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Publication Date

12-1989

Publisher

American Psychological Association

Source Publication

Psychological Assessment

Source ISSN

1040-3590

Abstract

The Therapeutic Bond Scales assess the quality of the therapeutic relationship from the patient's perspective. The therapeutic bond is composed of 3 aspects: working alliance, empathic resonance, and mutual affirmation. Scales were developed to measure these aspects and the therapeutic bond as a whole. The correlations between these scales and 2 measures of outcome (session quality assessed by the patient and termination outcome evaluated by nonparticipant raters) were examined. All scales were significantly correlated with session quality. Therapeutic bond was significantly correlated with termination outcome in both a linear and a curvilinear fashion, suggesting that, at least in the initial phase of therapy, the therapeutic bond can be too high as well as too low.

Comments

Accepted version. Psychological Assessment, Vol. 1, No. 4 (December 1989): 323-330. DOI.© 2019 American Psychological Association. Used with permission

Recommended Citation

Saunders, Stephen M.; Howard, Kenneth I.; and Orlinsky, David E., "The Therapeutic Bond Scales: Psychometric Characteristics and Relationship to Treatment Effectiveness" (1989). Psychology Faculty Research and Publications. 304.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/psych_fac/304