Therapist Empathy and Depth of Interpretation in Response to Potential Alliance Ruptures: The Role of Therapist and Patient Attachment Styles

Abstract

This analogue study examined the relationship between therapists' resolution of therapeutic alliance ruptures and their attachment styles. Seventy-seven clinical psychology graduate student therapists responded to videotaped statements made by role-played patients displaying four different attachment styles (preoccupied, dismissing, fearful, and secure). Therapist responses were rated on empathy and depth of interpretation. Therapist differences in attachment style were assessed on the two dimensions of anxiety and avoidance, derived from a factor analysis of the Relationship Scales Questionnaire. Overall, more anxious therapists tended to respond less empathically, particularly with the fearful and secure patients. There were no therapist differences in depth of interpretation. As a whole, responses to the fearful and preoccupied patients tended to be deeper and more empathic than those to the dismissing and secure patients.