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Abstract
This study was designed to investigate the nature of the psychotherapeutic relationship. Specifically the purposes of the study were: (1) to determine the degree to which an objective measure of therapist empathy was associated with client perception of therapist provision of the central therapeutic ingredients and therapy outcome and (2) to investigate the role of personal construct systems in the psychotherapeutic relationship.
Empathy level of eight psychotherapists employed at the Lincoln VA Hospital, Psychiatric Ward was assessed. The content and organization of the personal constructs of the therapists and 35 patients (clients) in the psychiatric ward were assessed by means of the Role Construct Repertory (Rep) Test. The clients were randomly assigned to the therapists for treatment. Following 12 therapy sessions or earlier therapy terminations, the clients were again administered the Rep Test. Therapy outcome was then assessed from both client and therapist points of view.
