Importance of the Working Alliance in Interpersonal Psychotherapy
The working alliance between the patient and the physician is one of the three essential components of success in psychotherapy. This component recognizes that both the patient and the physician seek the same objective. As such, the people will view each other as allies, thus treating their words, concerns, and opinions with respect and trust (Teyber & Teyber, 2017).
Influence of Collaborative Relationships on Treatment Success
Thus, treatment success relies on establishing a working alliance between stakeholders. Without it, patients may view the doctor as an enemy and do everything they can to sabotage their efforts. Progress tends to be very slow or absent in an antagonistic relationship.
Moreover, poor experiences with previous physicians may harm any future counseling efforts, as the patient might project their biases against clinicians towards anyone wearing a white coat. Doctors may experience the same adversary effects towards patients, resulting in a lack of empathy and general burnout from having their best efforts purposefully or subconsciously thwarted (Teyber & Teyber, 2017). They may even view the patient as an enemy and try to achieve a result despite their opinions and concerns, rather than in a coalition.
Essential Knowledge and Skills for Building Therapeutic Expertise
Interpersonal psychotherapy skills and knowledge could help develop therapeutic relationships. The approach allows for understanding and empathizing with how other people feel, and allows them to take control of their recovery process. It is much easier for an individual to accept the doctor as an ally rather than a domineering force when the physician behaves accordingly (Teyber & Teyber, 2017). If they present themselves as a helpful and valuable trove of knowledge, express beneficence, and promote understanding in a patient, then said patient would be much more open to change.
Some of the skills and knowledge I might need to develop include empathy, nurturing leadership skills, general and in-depth knowledge about psychotherapy, and conflict de-escalation skills (Teyber & Teyber, 2017). These will serve as a base upon which I will build myself up as a specialist.
Reference
Teyber, E., & Teyber, F. H. (2017). Interpersonal process in therapy: An integrative model (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.