Establishing a therapeutic alliance with substance abusers.

The influences of both Freud's and Bordin's concepts on the development of measures of the alliance are apparent. Bordin described three components in the alliance: goals, tasks, and bonds. In a well-functioning treatment relationship, the patient and therapist come to an agreement about the goals the patient wishes to achieve in the treatment. They also come to accept certain therapeutic tasks as potentially helpful for achieving those goals. The bonds that form between patient and therapist in the course of working on the tasks include the positive personal attachments that stimulate trust and confidence.