TY - JOUR

T1 - Building the Bond: Predictors of the Alliance in Neurorehabilitation.

AU - Rowlands, Leanne

AU - Coetzer, Rudi

AU - Turnbull, Oliver

PY - 2020/5/21

Y1 - 2020/5/21

N2 - Neurorehabilitation services are often delivered through group psycho-educationprogrammes. However, little is known about the therapeutic process at work during such sessions. The present study is the first to gain insight into the therapeutic alliance, during a seven session group programme. In addition, cognitive, emotional, and demographic predictors of the alliance, and participants’ feelings towards their group members, were investigated, together with predictors of patient engagement. Forty-five participants with anacquired brain injury completed a series of questionnaires, and neuropsychological assessment, following group psycho-education. The group Facilitator completed a parallel therapeutic alliance questionnaire, and rated participants’ engagement. Results demonstrated that a strong alliance can be formed in seven group sessions. Notably, no demographic or cognitive factors appear to pose a barrier to developing a therapeutic alliance, nor to groupattraction. High levels of depression, however, may be a challenge, and clinicians may need to tailor their clinical skills to ensure a good therapeutic relationship with such patients. To promote engagement, clinicians may also need to provide additional support to patients with lower levels of education, working memory, and episodic memory impairment.

AB - Neurorehabilitation services are often delivered through group psycho-educationprogrammes. However, little is known about the therapeutic process at work during such sessions. The present study is the first to gain insight into the therapeutic alliance, during a seven session group programme. In addition, cognitive, emotional, and demographic predictors of the alliance, and participants’ feelings towards their group members, were investigated, together with predictors of patient engagement. Forty-five participants with anacquired brain injury completed a series of questionnaires, and neuropsychological assessment, following group psycho-education. The group Facilitator completed a parallel therapeutic alliance questionnaire, and rated participants’ engagement. Results demonstrated that a strong alliance can be formed in seven group sessions. Notably, no demographic or cognitive factors appear to pose a barrier to developing a therapeutic alliance, nor to groupattraction. High levels of depression, however, may be a challenge, and clinicians may need to tailor their clinical skills to ensure a good therapeutic relationship with such patients. To promote engagement, clinicians may also need to provide additional support to patients with lower levels of education, working memory, and episodic memory impairment.

KW - Therapeutic alliance

KW - working alliance

KW - cognitive predictors

KW - neurorehabilitation

KW - group psycho-education

KW - group interventions

KW - Acquired Brain Injury

U2 - 10.3233/nre-193005

DO - 10.3233/nre-193005

M3 - Article

VL - 46

SP - 271

EP - 285

JO - NeuroRehabilitation

JF - NeuroRehabilitation

SN - 1053-8135

IS - 3

ER -