| This study considers how levels of two purported types of attention or consciousness, mindfulness and flow, may contribute to both: a) the therapy relationship, or working alliance; and b) skillful addressing of ruptures in said relationship. It has been theorized that such ruptures are an inevitable aspect of a fruitful treatment and may represent important markers of an opportunity for growth.;Using a hierarchical linear model of multivariate analysis, the present study examines how state and trait mindfulness and state flow influence alliance and rupture ratings both on a session level (n=1110) and a dyadic level (n=45). Multivariate analyses indicate a statistically significant negative association between state level of mindfulness and patient rated working alliance, (t= -2.32, p<.05). However flow was positively and significantly associated with patient ratings of both the working alliance (t=3.19, p<.01) and rupture resolution (t=3.20, p<.01).;Thus according to the present results it appears that an optimal state of psychological functioning, or flow, facilitates therapy process when it occurs in the therapist. Flow is discussed at length in the literature and in the present paper but briefly can be defined as “...an autotelic experience (performed for its own sake) accompanied by above average feeling states that begins when perceived challenges and skills are above average, and are in balance” (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990). Flow has not been rigorously studied in psychotherapy circles and the present paper attempts to relate the concept to treatment.;In contrast, the expected positive association between state level mindfulness and favorable therapy process ratings was not found. Rather, according to these results, it appears that a self-rated state of mindfulness in the therapist may at best be unrelated to patient ratings of the therapeutic alliance and rupture; and detrimental to therapy process at worst. Possible interpretations of these provocative findings are discussed and linked to recommendations for future study and clinical practice. |
