Interpersonell problematik och arbetsallians i psykoterapi
Klientens upplevelse och förändring av interpersonell problematik och dess relation till arbetsallians i psykoterapi
The purpose of this study was to examine interpersonal problems and its relationship to the working alliance in psychotherapy. To examine this, data was used from Umeå and Lund University psychology practice client database, which clients responded to by using the self-assessment scales Inventory of Interpersonal Problems Circumplex Scales and the Working Alliance Inventory. The sample consisted of 201 participants that answered the questionnaires both before and after psychotherapy. A second sample consisted of 93 clients who specifically sought help for interpersonal problems. Results showed that the level of interpersonal problems before and after psychotherapy changes. This means that individuals after psychotherapy experienced lower degree of interpersonal problems. The results also demonstrated that the link between interpersonal problems such as being vindictive/self-centred, cold/rejecting, socially impaired/introverted and submissive, the more interpersonal problems the lower working alliance estimation. Similar results were found for the group of participants who specifically sought help for interpersonal problems. The results are in line with previous studies where high estimation of interpersonal problems negatively affects the working alliance in psychotherapy. The relationship between interpersonal problems and working alliance needs to be studied further where further analysis of how interpersonal problems and working alliance changes over time in the different psychotherapy methods of cognitive behavioural therapy and psychodynamic therapy.