The power (and limits) of the therapeutic relationship: Working alliance, psychiatric distress, and the role of trait emotional intelligence

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveThe working alliance between therapists and patients is an important factor in the psychotherapy processes. Trait emotional intelligence has also been found to be malleable in treatment and to play a significant role in patient outcomes. The present study investigated how the relationship between measured working alliance and patient symptoms may differ depending on changes in patient trait emotional intelligence capacities.MethodsOne hundred twenty‐nine adults at a community mental health clinic completed self‐report measures at the beginning of treatment, as well as 8 months into treatment. Hierarchical linear regressions were computed to assess the interaction of working alliance and trait emotional intelligence scores on patient symptom scores. Simple slope tests were used to probe significant interactions.ResultsTrait emotional intelligence served as a significant moderator on the relationship between working alliance and patient symptoms. Specifically, the relationship between working alliance and patient symptoms was only significant for participants who reported an improvement in trait emotional intelligence over the course of treatment.ConclusionResults demonstrate that the impact of working alliance on patient symptom outcomes depended on patient improvement in trait emotional intelligence capacities. Such findings emphasize the importance of investigating the nuanced individual factors that impact the ways in which working alliance relates to treatment outcomes.