Interaction of therapeutic process and alliance during psychological assessment

Utilizing a collaborative therapeutic assessment (TA) model proposed by Fin n and Tonsager (1997), we examined the interaction between therapeutic alli ance and in-session process during the assessment phase of treatment. This study compares the utility of the TA model (n = 38) versus a traditional in formation gathering model (n = 90) of assessment. The results of this study indicate that the use of a TA model may decrease the number of patients wh o terminate treatment against medical advice. The Session Evaluation Questi onnaire (Stiles & Snow, 1984), Combined Alliance Short Form (Watcher & Bare nds. 1996), and Penn Helping Alliance Questionnaire-Revised (Barber & Crits -Christoph, 1996) call reliably measure the patient's experience of the ass essment. The psychological assessment process may impact the patient's expe rience of assessment feedback and aid in the development of a therapeutic a lliance. The therapeutic alliance developed during the assessment wits foun d to be related to alliance early in psychotherapy. We discuss the theoreti cal, clinical, and research implications of these findings.