Suarez, Newman, and Reed (2008) have defined positionality as “our internal and external status’ as being along two axes and how they interact or intersect defines our position and power in society and our practice with clients.” Their article goes on to look at how Suarez one of the co-authors viewed and deconstructed her positionality about that of her client’s. She reflected on her positionality in this way so that she would not make false assumptions about her clients by viewing them with her biased about their culture as compared to hers. My positionality can affect Mr. E as well because I am a member of the dominant culture as a white person and he is a member of a minority culture and ethnicity as an African American individual.
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Bordin (1970) defines a therapeutic working alliance in as a common factors triad concept. This triad includes a bond between the therapist and client, tasks, and goals that are mutually agreed upon between the therapist and client (Falkenstrom, Granstrom, &, Holmqvist, 2013),(Whinston,Rossier, & Baron, 2016)(Sackett & Lawson, 2014). The strength of the alliance has been linked in several studies to the outcome of therapy sessions. The strong the alliance or relationship between the therapist and client the more successful or positive the results of therapy will be for the client (Falkenstrom, Granstrom, &, Holmqvist, 2013),(Whinston,Rossier, & Baron, 2016)(Sackett & Lawson, 2014). What more important is the client’s perception or measure of the strength of the alliance. If the client perceives or feels less bonded to the goals, tasks, or the therapist then the therapy will not be as helpful to them (Whinston, Rossier, Baron, 2016). According to several studies synthesized by Whinston, Rossier, & Baron (2016) factors that foster strength in building a working alliance are a therapist’s ability to convey empathy and positive regard toward the client. In many other studies that Whiston, Rossier, and Baron (2016) analyzed establishing a working alliance was the first step in counseling and that the working alliance gets stronger over time. They also mention how the stronger the alliance, the better possibility a rupture and damage to the alliance can be repaired by the therapist. In essence, it is important to have a strong working alliance and therapeutic relationship with the client because it can predict outcomes and help the relationship withstand any miss-steps by the therapist (Falkenstrom, Granstrom, & Holmqvist, 2013). As mentioned the strength of the relationship and alliance can predict the results of therapy. A way to
Bordin (1970) defines a therapeutic working alliance in as a common factors triad concept. This triad includes a bond between the therapist and client, tasks, and goals that are mutually agreed upon between the therapist and client (Falkenstrom, Granstrom, &, Holmqvist, 2013),(Whinston,Rossier, & Baron, 2016)(Sackett & Lawson, 2014). The strength of the alliance has been linked in several studies to the outcome of therapy sessions. The strong the alliance or relationship between the therapist and client the more successful or positive the results of therapy will be for the client (Falkenstrom, Granstrom, &, Holmqvist, 2013),(Whinston,Rossier, & Baron, 2016)(Sackett & Lawson, 2014). What more important is the client’s perception or measure of the strength of the alliance. If the client perceives or feels less bonded to the goals, tasks, or the therapist then the therapy will not be as helpful to them (Whinston, Rossier, Baron, 2016). According to several studies synthesized by Whinston, Rossier, & Baron (2016) factors that foster strength in building a working alliance are a therapist’s ability to convey empathy and positive regard toward the client. In many other studies that Whiston, Rossier, and Baron (2016) analyzed establishing a working alliance was the first step in counseling and that the working alliance gets stronger over time. They also mention how the stronger the alliance, the better possibility a rupture and damage to the alliance can be repaired by the therapist. In essence, it is important to have a strong working alliance and therapeutic relationship with the client because it can predict outcomes and help the relationship withstand any miss-steps by the therapist (Falkenstrom, Granstrom, & Holmqvist, 2013). As mentioned the strength of the relationship and alliance can predict the results of therapy. A way to