Difference in Therapeutic Alliance: High-Conflict Co-Parents vs Regular Couples

The purpose of this research is to explore differences in the therapeutic alliance for High-Conflict Co-Parents (HCC) vs. Regular Couples. A therapeutic alliance consists of three domains: a bond between the participants, agreement on tasks and agreement on goals in therapy. It also requires two or more individuals. It was hypothesized that HCC clients would have lower therapeutic alliance scores compared to regular couples. The results supported this hypothesis. By identifying these differences, more research can be conducted to improve our understanding of how to strengthen the therapeutic alliance with HCC clients, leading to improved treatment of this population.