Predicting Therapeutic Alliance: Supervisory Alliance and Supervisee’s Attachment Style

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate how attachment styles and supervisory alliance predict the therapeutic alliance. Data was collected using The Therapeutic Alliance Scale, the Working Alliance Inventory: Trainee Form, and Attachment Styles in Interpersonal Relationships Scale. The study administered measuring instruments to 361 undergraduate counseling students (i.e., supervisees) from seven different state universities who had completed at least three counseling and supervision sessions. The data was analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and Multiple Linear Regression analysis methods. The findings revealed that supervisees’ secure attachment styles positively and significantly predicted the therapeutic alliance. While the anxious-preoccupied attachment style did not significantly predict the goal and task sub-dimensions of the therapeutic alliance, it did significantly predict the bond sub-dimension and the total score of the therapeutic alliance. In contrast, the avoidant attachment style only significantly predicted the bond sub-dimension of the therapeutic alliance. Furthermore, the supervisory alliance was significantly predictor for all dimensions of the therapeutic alliance, as well as the total score.