Self-definition issues may veil relational needs and fears in negotiations of the alliance

Needs for self-definition and relatedness in psychotherapeutic interaction have been described in theory and research but their role in rupture-repair episodes is still not well understood. The aim of this study was to explore the relational dynamics between therapists and clients during alliance ruptures and repairs through the lens of the concepts of self-definition and relatedness. Nine therapists were interviewed about their experiences in rupture and repair processes. Interview answers were analyzed with theory-informed interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) focusing on therapists’ and clients’ needs and expressions of self-definition and relatedness during these processes. Two themes were identified: Ruptures as imbalances of relatedness leading to strains in self-definition and Repair as a restoration of mutual self-definition to create balance in relatedness. The general finding was that ruptures developed as unaware imbalances between therapist and client regarding their needs of relatedness. This imbalance was, however, expressed and handled with behaviors that were oriented around needs of self-definition. After therapist-client negotiations over self-definition issues had come to an end, renewed and more mutual relatedness could be achieved. The findings underline the importance of self-definition and relatedness as fundamental aspects of rupture and repair processes. This study analyses how clients’ and therapists’ different relatedness expectations may be expressed as self-definition problems. After negotiation of ruptures, increased relatedness may ensue. The results can improve therapists’ understanding and handling of rupture and repair processes in therapy.