The Therapeutic Alliance in the System

Building the bond with the dyad and the shared purpose.

Establishing a strong working alliance in couples therapy presents a geometrically greater challenge than in individual intervention.

Rather than managing a single perspective, the practitioner must emotionally connect with two individuals who often present antagonistic views of reality, while simultaneously sustaining the relationship as the primary "patient."

For the process to be effective, it is imperative to generate an environment of psychological safety where both partners feel they can be vulnerable and honest.

The partnership is not just about getting clients to like you, but about forging a shared sense of purpose.

This involves clarifying from the outset that, although each has his or her own needs, the goal of the sessions is the well-being of the system they form.

Without this joint commitment to the therapeutic process, it is difficult to move beyond superficial complaints.

Management of neutrality and multipartiality

One of the highest risks in this type of intervention is the perception of favoritism.

If one of the members feels that the therapist has allied with the other, the therapy usually fails.

Systemic theory offers us a crucial tool here: the dilution of blame through circular vision, avoiding pointing to a "villain" and a "victim". However, neutrality does not mean passivity or indifference.

Schools such as Milan suggest that success lies in the fact that no one feels that the therapist is exclusively on his or her side, but that he or she is on the side of the relationship.

More modernly, there is talk of "multi-sidedness," which is the therapist's ability to validate and empathize with each party's perspective in a sequential and balanced manner, ensuring that all voices in the system are heard and understood before seeking solutions.

Nonspecific factors of therapeutic change

Beyond the specific techniques of each model (such as cognitive-behavioral or systemic), there are universal elements that predict therapy success.

Research has shown that professionals without specific training, but with certain human qualities, can achieve results comparable to clinical experts. These are called "non-specific factors".

Among those most relevant to couples therapy are: the quality of the therapeutic alliance (trust in the professional); the opportunity for catharsis or emotional relief by expressing what is held back; the acquisition and practice of new behaviors or skills; the generation of positive expectations or hope for change; the therapist's positive influence and commitment to the case; and, crucially, the provision of a "reason" or logical framework that explains why the problems occur, allowing the couple to stop seeing the conflict as incomprehensible chaos.

Summary

Establishing alliances requires connecting with antagonistic views while holding the relationship as the primary patient. Psychological safety allows both partners to be vulnerable and honest in all sessions.

Managing neutrality avoids favoritism that could ruin the therapeutic process if someone feels isolated. Multipartidiality validates each perspective sequentially ensuring that all voices are ultimately heard.

Certain nonspecific factors predict success beyond the technique employed by the specialized practitioner. Partnership, catharsis and providing logical frameworks explain problems bringing hope and commitment.