Sequential analyses examined associations between the working alliance and therapist-adolescent communication patterns in 10 Spanish cases of brief conjoint family therapy. Early sessions with strong versus problematic alliances, rated by observers, were selected for coding of relational control communication patterns. No differences were found in…

Predictions of family therapy outcome consistently vary depending on which client rates the alliance. We used the actor-partner interdependence model (Kenny, Kashy, & Cook, 2006) to test the interdependence of parents' and adolescents' ratings of alliance, session depth/value, and improvement-so-far after Sessions 3, 6, and 9. Initial analyses…

To be responsive to clients' evaluations of the unfolding therapy process, therapists must first accurately "read" client behavior, a particularly challenging task in conjoint family therapy. In this study, the authors compared client behavior in 28 sessions that one family member and the therapist concurred, on the Session Evaluation…

The authors focused on 2 unique aspects of the alliance in conjoint therapy: feeling safe in the therapeutic context with other family members and the family's shared sense of purpose about treatment (i.e., productive within-family collaboration). Low-income, multiproblem families were seen in a community clinic by therapists with varying…

Used a multidimensional content analysis to compare four expert counselors' approaches to family treatment. Two common change factors in family counseling were proposed: disruption of the existing balance of power among family members and education in the nature and strength of family systems. (JAC)

Examined relational control communication patterns in systemic family therapy sessions. Results from 29 families showed significantly more complementarity than symmetry. Neither complementarity nor symmetry was predictive of family members' perceptions of the therapeutic alliance as measured by Couple and Family Therapy Alliance Scales. (Author/NB)

To deepen our understanding of the therapeutic alliance in conjoint treatment, we interviewed clients in four families about their individual, private experience of the alliance after an early session. These qualitative data were triangulated with family members' scores on Pinsof's Family Therapy Alliance Scale-Revised and observational ratings of…

Examined the psychometric properties of the Couple and Family Therapy Alliance Scales (IPAS), two theoretically derived and systemically based measures of the therapeutic alliance. Couple and family clients (N=66) completed the scales and the Session Evaluation Questionnaire immediately following an early-to-mid treatment interview. Descriptive…

Conducted qualitative analysis of important change event in family therapy: sustaining engagement (SE). Examined videotapes of 33 sessions to develop and refine operational definitions of "disengagement" and "sustained engagement." Conducted qualitative comparison of interpersonal dynamics in four successful versus four…

Compared structural and Milan systemic approaches to determine extent to which major proponents behave in ways that are consistent with theory. Focused on interpersonal control dynamics between therapist and family system. Findings from three published transcripts of each treatment were generally congruent with theory and reflected hypothesized…

Examined the interpersonal structures of interviews by Ackerman, Bowen, Jackson, and Whitaker with the same family to identify common features across counselors. Multidimensional scaling provided a spatial representation of the hidden structure in the communication patterns of these interviews. Correlations indicated counselors' interactions were…

Describes the Cognitive Constructions Coding System (CCCS) designed to study family members and their descriptions of their difficulties. CCCS codes the context of a Problem Elaboration Episode, a segment of psychotherapy discourse. Discusses four studies that explore the validity and reliability of the CCCS. (MKA)

To advance research and inform practice, the authors developed an observational rating system of client behavior reflecting strong and weak therapeutic alliances in couple and family therapy. The System for Observing Family Therapy Alliances (SOFTA), in both English and Spanish, has 2 dimensions that are common across therapy modalities…