Attunement in the Therapeutic Alliance:

The last decade has seen a burgeoning interest in the therapeutic alliance and its critical role in producing positive outcomes in counselling. This study contributes to research on the specific factors that enable a strong alliance. Specifically Davis investigates the nature and value of the experience of attunement by conducting a multi-disciplinary literature review, and by interviewing clinicians. How important is attunement? What are the implications for clinicians? Davis finds that academic and clinical sources broadly agree that attunement can create and deepen the therapeutic alliance, and can facilitate the therapeutic process. Her study goes further to suggest that attunement occurs at the level of body, mind and spirit, and can be documented by shifts in neurology and physiology. She also finds that the counsellor s compassionate presence can impact attunement, and that the experience of attunement is inherently healing for the client. The study is intended for clinicians and researchers, and for all who are interested in the use of mindfulness in therapy.

Autorentext

M.A. Counselling Psychology, City University of Seattle. Stephanie is a clinical counsellor in British Columbia, Canada.