Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy and the Working Alliance

Abstract

In this chapter, I will consider the working alliance in REBT. As this concept makes clear, therapist and client have work to do and they are encouraged to become allies while doing this work. As we shall see the concept of the ‘working alliance’, is broader than that of the ‘therapeutic relationship’. Historically, in published work in REBT, the relationship between therapist and client in REBT has not been emphasized as a therapeutic ingredient, even though it is generally regarded as important to, but not necessary for, therapeutic change. One of the reasons that the therapeutic relationship has not received much attention in the REBT literature is that it has usually been seen as synonymous with the bond between therapist and client and Ellis (in Dryden, 1997) always warned REB therapists to guard against developing an overly warm bond with their clients, for fear of exacerbating the latter’s dire need for love and approval. However, the therapeutic bond is but one of four components of the working alliance between client and therapist that can be examined in REBT. The other domains are goals, views and tasks. In this chapter then I will consider issues to which REB therapists need to attend in each of the four alliance components.