Therapeutic Alliance
Therapeutic alliance is generally described as "the connection between patient and therapist, the mutual agreement to work together on tasks related to the patient's well-being" (Fried, 2002). The Partners for Change Outcome Management System (PCOMS) is a systematic behavioral health tool that clinicians can use to solicit feedback from clients to enhance the therapeutic alliance.
How does PCOMS work?
PCOMS uses two four-item scales, the Outcomes Rating Scale (ORS) and the Session Rating Scale (SRS), to solicit feedback from clients regarding the quality of therapeutic alliance and the impact of treatment on social, emotional, and mental wellbeing. The ORS is given to clients at the beginning of each session, focusing on the client’s experiences between sessions and is designed to monitor clinical outcomes. Items on the ORS are discussed between the client and clinician to promote collaboration and transparency, not only providing helpful progress monitoring information but also acting as a preventative intervention for clients most at risk of negative outcomes. The SRS is given to clients at the end of each therapy session to measure the impact of each session, and is specifically designed to gauge the relationship between client and clinician to promote and enhance therapeutic alliance.
How was it used in PSW?
PSW clinicians aimed to use PCOMS with each client during every session, and reported that it was user-friendly and enhanced their therapeutic relationships.
