Identifying working alliance ruptures in couples therapy: A quantitative and qualitative analysis

It has been suggested that effective therapeutic treatment consists of a pattern of tears and repairs in the working alliance (Horvath, 1995). Ruptures have been investigated in single client therapeutic relationships, with few studies on couple therapy ruptures. This pilot study sought to ascertain whether the Structural Analysis of Social Behaviour (SASB) method or the Rupture Resolution Scale (RRS) identified ruptures in 47 couples brief therapy sessions. Expert Raters (ERs) completed a questionnaire about the videotaped segments and identified ruptures. ERs observations’ were juxtaposed upon SASB and RRS findings. Results found RRS identified ruptures (RIRs) matched all ER identified ruptures, suggesting that the RRS is accurate at detecting ruptures in couple therapy. The SASB method was less accurate than the RRS. There were indications of differences between the threshold the RRS and ERs had for ruptures. What RIRs represent in couple therapy is discussed. No couple subsystem ruptures were identified.