Abstract
Repairing alliance ruptures has the potential to serve as a powerful mechanism of change in psychotherapy. In this article, a transtheoretical individual-specific framework for repairing alliance ruptures is proposed. According to the proposed framework, at the intake session, the therapist evaluates the trait-like tendencies of individual patients to face ruptures in interpersonal relationships. We propose a typology based on which patients are assigned to one of the following therapeutic strategies: (a) a treatment where alliance rupture and repair is the main mechanism of change (Type A), (b) an added module that augments another treatment, focusing on rupture and repair (Type B), or (c) treatment where no rupture resolution work is carried out (Type C). The proposed framework is based on cumulative clinical knowledge, and its validity and utility need to be assessed in future research.
Repairing alliance ruptures is considered an important mechanism of change in the psychotherapeutic process.
A transtheoretical and individual-specific framework for repairing alliance ruptures is proposed.
Based on an individual’s trait-like tendencies to face ruptures in interpersonal settings, the therapist may choose among three different therapeutic approaches.