Effects of explicit time-limits on the initial therapeutic alliance.

This study investigated the hypothesis that the setting of explicit time-limits in individual counseling enhances the formation of the therapeutic alliance. Students at a university-based counseling center were randomly assigned to a 5-session, time-limited therapy condition (n = 16) or a time-unlimited therapy condition (n = 15). Contrary to the hypothesis, statistical analyses showed no differences between audiotaped segments from the second and third therapy sessions rated on the Vanderbilt Therapeutic Alliance Scale.