RELATIONSHIP OF WORKING ALLIANCE TO MUTUAL AND UNILATERAL TERMINATION

The relationship between strength of working alliance after the 3rd session and unilateral client termination was examined. Participants were 4 Ph.D. psychologists and 6 practicum trainees and their 103 college student clients. Both members of 91 counseling dyads (88%) completed the short version of the Working Alliance Inventory (Tracey & Kokotovic, 1989) after the 3rd counseling session. Counselor ratings of working alliance were positively associated with mutual termination. Client working alliance ratings did not relate to termination type. It was suggested that counselors focus directly on strengthening weak alliances with clients to prevent client unilateral termination.