Strengthening the working alliance through a clinician’s familiarity with the 12-step approach

Keywords

Therapeutic relationship, working alliance, 12-step programs, substance use disorder treatment

Abstract

Background: The working alliance plays an important role in the substance use disorder treatment process. Many substance use disorder treatment providers incorporate the 12-Step approach to recovery into treatment. With the 12-Step approach known among many clients and clinicians, it may well factor into the therapeutic relationship. Objective: We investigated how, from the perspective of clients, a clinician’s level of familiarity with and in-session time spent on the 12-Step approach might affect the working alliance between clients and clinicians, including possible differences based on a clinician’s recovery status. Method: We conducted a secondary study using data from 180 clients and 31 clinicians. Approximately 81% of client participants were male, and approximately 65% of clinician participants were female. We analyzed data with Stata using a population-averaged model. Results: From the perspective of clients with a substance use disorder, clinicians’ familiarity with the 12-Step approach has a positive relationship with the working alliance. The client-estimated amount of in-session time spent on the 12-Step approach did not have a statistically significant effect on ratings of the working alliance. A clinician’s recovery status did not moderate the relationship between 12-Step familiarity and the working alliance. Conclusion: These results suggest that clinicians can influence, in part, how their clients perceive the working alliance by being familiar with the 12-Step approach. This might be particularly salient for clinicians who provide substance use disorder treatment at agencies that incorporate, on some level, the 12-Step approach to recovery.

Original Publication Citation

Dennis, C. B., Roland, B. D., & Loneck B. M. (2018). Strengthening the working alliance through a clinician’s familiarity with the 12-Step approach. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 44(3), 378-385.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2017-09-09

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/5863

Publisher

The Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Social Work

University Standing at Time of Publication

Assistant Professor

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS