Terapeutegenskaper och allians i utbildningsterapi: En intervjustudie

Sammanfattning: The working alliance between therapist and client has been proven important for the treatment outcome in psychotherapy, as well as the therapist’s characteristics. The aim of the current study was to examine the experience of important characteristics when forming a working alliance, among psychotherapy trainees. Eight psychotherapy trainees at Umeå University were interviewed and the material was analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Characteristics described as positively impacting the working alliance were interested, empathic, warm, genuine, secure, flexible and accepting. These characteristics resulted in a more open attitude among the clients which made the working alliance stronger. The negative characteristics were insecure and rigid, which had a negative impact on the working alliance. The fact that the trainees were in an educational situation proved to be of importance for the impact of the characteristics on the working alliance. Implications for the educational situation and the relationship between supervisor and trainee are being discussed.