Counselor training level and the formation of the psychotherapeutic working alliance.

To investigate the relation of training level to working alliance, 50 counselor-client dyads from three counseling agencies were surveyed. Counselors were grouped into three training levels: (a) novices, in their first practicum; (b) advanced trainees, in their second practicum through predoctoral internship; and (c) experienced counselors, postdoctoral staff at the agencies. After the third session, counselors and clients completed the Working Alliance Inventory to provide ratings of the bond, task, and goal dimensions of their alliances