Abstract
Purpose: The therapeutic alliance refers to the relationship between patient and provider, consisting of bonds, goals, and tasks. A positive therapeutic alliance enhances care and leads to improved outcomes. The purpose of this study is to explore the lived experiences of college student-athletes relating to the development of the therapeutic alliance with athletic trainers. Methods: Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) with semi-structured interviews. We used a semi-structured interview to explore the therapeutic alliance and lived experiences of participants. Participants included twelve college student-athletes who were currently under the care of an athletic trainer. Participants completed a semi-structured interview. We used a CQR approach to analyze qualitative data. For CQR, the data analysis team completed a multi-phase coding process building a consensus codebook that was representative of the data. We then applied the codebook across all transcripts. Credibility and trustworthiness in the analysis were ensured through member-checking, multi-analyst review, internal and external auditing. Results: We identified three domains that aided in the development of the therapeutic alliance: empowerment, transparency, and intentionality. Participants described shared decision-making, flexibility, and education as factors that empowered them in their care. Being transparent through reciprocal communication and provider-centric communication provided participants trust in their athletic trainer. Finally, intentional actions such as communication, physical presence, goal setting, and instruction helped foster motivation and adherence for participants. Conclusions: College student-athletes in this study felt a strong bond with the athletic trainer, which played an important role in facilitating willingness to engage in their care. Participants felt the therapeutic alliance came from the athletic trainer being intentional and transparent, working to empower them. Athletic trainers should take intentional steps to foster a strong therapeutic alliance with patients to promote adherence and patient outcomes.
Recommended Citation
Torres P, Stoeppel SM, Young J, Kiesel J, Eberman LE, Rivera MJ. Therapeutic Alliance: Exploring the Patient-Clinician Relationship through the Experiences of Collegiate Student-Athletes with Athletic Trainers. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. 2025 Apr 15;23(2), Article 8.
