The Therapeutic Relationship in the Behavioural Treatment of Anxiety Disorders

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Abstract
The present study investigates the prediction of treatment outcome in the early stages of therapy by examining the quality of the therapeutic relationship. Furthering our understanding of the critical relationship variables may be useful for intervening in unsuccessful treatment outcomes. Two self-report instruments are used to assess the client-therapist interaction: the EPIN and the TCRS. Results show the client's assessment of the quality of the therapeutic relationship, as assessed with the EPIN, is related to treatment outcome. None of the subscales of the TCRS showed significant correlations. We conclude that in the early stage of treatment, the establishment of an accepting, empathic and supportive relationship with the client (as perceived by the client), is important for the progress of directive behaviour therapy.