Closes 16 October 2025
This honours research study aims to explore how Australian psychologists form and maintain therapeutic alliances when working with clients who have experienced trauma. While the therapeutic alliance is a well-established predictor of client outcomes, trauma can significantly affect a client’s capacity to trust, form safe interpersonal connections and remained engaged in therapy – all of which can make establishing a therapeutic alliance more challenging.
Despite the importance of the therapeutic alliance when working with trauma-affected clients, there is limited qualitative research exploring the specific barriers and facilitators that Australian psychologists encounter in these contexts. This study seeks to address that gap by capturing the lived experiences and perspectives of practising psychologists.
We are inviting registered psychologists in Australia with at least two years of experience and current or past experience working with trauma-affected clients to take part in a one-on-one, semi-structured interview via Zoom (approximately 45–60 minutes).
Eligible participants will be invited to take part in a one-on-one, semi-structured interview via Zoom (approximately 45–60 minutes). Participation is voluntary and confidential.
Ethics approval has been granted by La Trobe University’s Human Research Ethics Committee (Reference Number: HEC25217).
For further information, or to take part, please contact Francesco Monardo on [email protected]