This study sought to assess the association of client- and therapist-rated real relationship with each other and with the outcome of brief psychotherapy. It also aimed to determine whether changes over time in perceptions of the real relationship and increasing convergence between clients' and therapists' ratings of the real relationship were…

The purpose of this study was to understand how the real relationship (RR) relates to important process and outcome variables from both the clients' and therapists' perspectives. Using a sample of 31 therapist/client dyads at a university counseling center, the authors examined the RR at the 3rd session of therapy and at termination. The results…

Studied the interactive effects of transference and client insight on session quality, and the relationship between transference and counselor intentions within the context of a single counseling session. When transference was high, client insight was positively related to session quality. Negative transference was related to several counselor…

This study investigated client and counselor trainee attachment as predictors of session evaluation and countertransference behavior in 93 first counseling sessions. Results indicated that client attachment predicted aspects of session evaluation, whereas counselor attachment and the interaction of client and counselor attachment predicted aspects…

Responds to comments by Greenberg and by Patton (both this issue) addressing ambiguities in Gelso and Carter's article (this issue) on components of psychotherapy relationship. In reply, discusses issue of how general theory ought to be to have maximal impact on research and practice. Questions number of Greenberg's assertions about Gelso and…

Suggests ingredients in the therapy relationship that are common to all interventions. Examines similarities and differences in how the relationship works within the three dominant approaches to therapy to restimulate research and theory. (JAC)

Examined effects of counselor attire on clients' state anxiety, willingness to self-disclose, and counselor preference. Counselor attire was traditional, casual, and highly casual. Clients experienced lower anxiety with counselors in casual v highly casual attire. No differences emerged between traditionally and casually attired counselors. Client…

Notes that all counseling and psychotherapy relationships consist of working alliance, transference configuration, and real relationship. Draws on theoretical and research literature and uses clinical examples to offer 19 propositions about how these 3 relationship components interact with one another, how each operates across course of…

Explored relationship between counselor trainee anger-proneness and anger discomfort and trainees' reactions to angry client. Thirty-eight trainees viewed and gave reactions to videotape of angry client-actress. Trainee anger-proneness and anger discomfort scores were positively and significantly related to discomfort with and anger toward the…

Study uses the consensual qualitative-research method to address questions about therapists' perceptions of transference in long-term therapy: How does transference operate? How is transference dealt with and resolved? What problems do therapists encounter with transference? Findings suggest that transference operated in a complex manner for…

Examines the interactive role of therapist-rated transference and insight in predicting both the outcome of time-limited therapy and the course of therapist-rated transference and insight. Results indicate that neither transference nor insight alone predicted outcome; the interaction of transference and emotional insight influenced client- and…

Examined the relationship of male counselor trainees' (N=20) empathic ability to measures of countertransference behavior and countertransference feelings. Indicated empathy was negatively related to countertransference behavior and was positively related to counselor reports of openness to countertransference feelings. (Author)

Examined male and female counselors' countertransference reactions to lesbian versus heterosexual client actresses, and the role of counselor homophobia and countertransference management ability in countertransference reactions. Counselors did not exhibit more countertransference with lesbian clients. Countertransference management did not…

The development and initial validation of a therapist-rated measure of the real relationship in psychotherapy (the Real Relationship Inventory-Therapist Form [RRI-T]) is reported. Using a sample (n=80) of practicing psychotherapists and on the basis of prior theory, the authors developed a 24-item measure consisting of 2 subscales (Realism and…

Virtually all counseling theories have viewed counselor empathic ability as an important condition for counseling, while the concept of countertransference, any therapist feelings or attitudes toward the client, has had a much shakier history. A two-part counseling analogue was designed to examine the relationship of male counselor trainees'…