Therapist characteristics and alliance
Therapists whose self-description showed it was a little more characteristic that they could appear distant (cold/distant), often coincided with a lower quality of alliance both as they and the patients saw it.
The studies showed that this is a very sensitive area for alliance development.
See publication nr.16 and nr.1 :
Hersoug, A. G., Høglend, P, Havik, O.E., von der Lippe, A, & Monsen, J.T. (2009b).
Hersoug, A. G., Monsen, J.T, Havik, O.E., & Høglend, P. (2002).
Therapist intervention and alliance
A study of interpretations and patients defence-functioning and the therapists adaption of interpretations to the patients level of defence showed : when the therapist had more supportive interventions and when the patient had more mature defence functioning, the patients experienced better therapeutic alliance.
See publication nr.8
Hersoug, A.G., Høglend, P., & Bøgwald, K-P (2004).
Patient characteristics and quality of alliance
Patients with higher levels of a distant/cold interpersonal style experienced lower quality of alliance early in therapy, but underwent positive development in the course of therapy.
See publication nr.2 and nr. 17:
Hersoug, A.G., Monsen. J.T., Havik, O.E. & Høglend, P. (2002).
Hersoug, A. G., Høglend, P, Havik, O.E., von der Lippe, A, & Monsen, J.T. (2009a).