Client Attachment, Symptom Distress, Marital Adjustment, and Therapeutic Alliance in Couple's Therapy

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis was to examine the relationship between client anxiety, avoidance, symptom distress, marital adjustment and the therapeutic alliance in couple’s therapy. Sample for this study was composed of 188 couples attending therapy at a marriage and family therapy training clinic at a public, Southeastern university. A significant negative relationship was found between male symptom distress and therapeutic alliance. Similarly, a significant negative relationship was also found between male marital adjustment and therapeutic alliance. No significant relationships were found between male attachment anxiety, avoidance and the therapeutic alliance. A significant negative relationship was found between female avoidance and therapeutic alliance when controlling for all symptom distress and marital adjustment. No significant relationships were found between female anxiety, symptom distress, and marital adjustment and the therapeutic alliance.