The working alliance in group counseling: an exploratory study

The working alliance is a well-defined component of the therapeutic relationship. The present exploratory study examined the development of the working alliance within a group counseling context. The participants (N = 50) were students in a graduate program in mental health counseling taking an experiential training course in group dynamics. Participants rated their perceptions of the working alliance at the end of each session in a time-limited training group. Group members' perceptions of their alliance with the group leader and the group as a whole were positively correlated. Outcomes of the group experience were strongly related to the perceived strength of the working alliance as early as the fourth session. Outcomes were also positively correlated with the bonding and agreement-on-goals aspects of the working alliance, but not with the group tasks aspect. The more that group members reported strong working alliances, the more they tended to report that they had self-disclosed in the group.