Definitions
Working alliance
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     Working alliance


All definitions
The idea of the "working alliance" is really more theory/framework than definition, but we'll try to pare it down for succinct use.

Bordin's 1979 paper is a classic reference for this construct. It's worth noting that he uses the term "patient," which is not necessarily appropriate for the range of career or even therapeutic counselling approaches. Therefore, we're retaining his ideas but substituting the term "help-seeker" for "patient."


For Bordin, the therapeutic working alliance between help-seeker and therapists (counsellors) consists of three broad features:
  1. Agreement on goals
  2. Agreement on tasks assigned to both parties
  3. The development of deep bonds of trust and attachment

References
Bordin, E. (1979). The generalizability of the psychoanalytic concept of the working alliance. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 16, 252–60.
Read a practice exam essay in response to:

"Critically discuss the notion of the 'working alliance' in career counselling."

Exam essay practice answer