Clients' and therapists' perceptions of intrasessional connection: an analogue study of change over time, predictor variables, and level of consensus

Abstract

Clients' and therapists' within-session experiences of relational connection were investigated using an analogue design. Eighty "therapist-client" dyads rated, on a minute-by-minute basis, their levels of connection to the other over a 20 minute counselling session. Therapists' and clients' feelings of connection increased over time with a negatively accelerating curve. Clients experienced a greater increase in feelings of connection with therapists that they perceived as less anxious; while older therapists, and therapists who believed they were perceived as more agreeable, experienced a deeper connection. Clients' and therapists' perception of connection were significantly associated, with a median within-dyad correlation of .76.