Participants' perceptions of dimensions of the therapeutic alliance over the course of therapy.

The course of diverse dimensions of the therapeutic alliance as seen by the therapy participants was examined in two studies. In Study 1, use of the Penn Helping Alliance Method, Therapeutic Alliance Rating System, and Vanderbilt Psychotherapy Process Scale at the 3rd, 10th, and next-to-last therapy sessions revealed significant increases over time for therapists' mean scores on 5 of the 12 subscales. Consistency of participants' scores over time varied depending on rater perspective (therapist or client) and time interval. In Study 2, the Helping Alliance Questionnaire, Working Alliance Inventory, and California Psychotherapy Alliance Scales showed no significant change in participants' average alliance scores on the 9 subscales from the 5th to 10th sessions, and their same-scale ratings were in general consistent. Few differences were observed between therapists' and clients' average alliance ratings, but the relationship was generally perceived differently within dyads.