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Cited by 111Psychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology ResearchCounseling Practices and Supervision

The DOI matches its Crossref record.

‘The vehicle of success’: Theoretical and empirical perspectives on the therapeutic alliance in psychotherapy and psychiatry

Catty, Jocelyn·2004·Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice
DOI 10.1348/147608304323112528
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Abstract

The importance of the 'therapeutic alliance' has long been recognized in psychotherapeutic theory and research, but is also increasingly researched in psychiatry. This paper examines the clinical and empirical literature on the alliance and asks, first, whether the concept is unrecognizably distorted when it travels from the psychoanalytic context to other therapies and to psychiatry, or when translated into research instruments; and, second, how we are to understand the apparent anomaly whereby its proponents have defined it as a 'vehicle' for treatment rather than curative, whereas quantitative research increasingly associates it with outcome. This paper reviews the evolution of the concept in clinical theory, traces the development of empirical research on the subject and considers its use in psychiatry. It argues that the empirical research misleadingly suggests a curative paradigm, and that it may be unable to illuminate some of the clinical controversies, although its implications for theory demand consideration. It argues for the retention of the alliance concept in psychiatry distinct from the broader spectrum of the 'relationship'. Finally, it argues that the debate about the concept's curative properties may, paradoxically, be more pressing within psychotherapy than psychiatry, and endorses calls for more theoretically driven empirical research into the alliance.

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Metadata

Authors
Catty, J.
Affiliations
St George's, University of London (GB)
Corresponding author
Catty, Jocelyn
ORCID
Catty, Jocelyn
Venue
Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2004-06
Volume
77
Issue
2
Pages
255-272
ISSN
  • 1476-0835 (ISSN-L)
  • 2044-8341
DOI
10.1348/147608304323112528
OpenAlex
W2153640284
Cited by
111
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 8
FWCI
3.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 2389 d)
Locations
  • Psychology and Psychotherapy Theory Research and Practice (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Counseling Practices and Supervision
Keywords
therapeutic relationship, psychotherapy, psychiatry, psychoanalytic theory, treatment outcomes
MeSH terms
Humans, Models, Psychological, Professional-Patient Relations, Psychotherapeutic Processes, Transference, Psychology, Treatment Outcome, Biomedical Research

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