Understanding the components of building an effective helping relationship is fundamental. The therapeutic alliance evolves from an effective helping relationship. In family therapy, the alliance exists between individuals, subgroups and the entire family. It is imperative that the family and clinician maintain a positive relationship in order to make progress toward resolving the presenting problem. In the alliance, the clinician and family work as a team. The alliance can have an impact on the outcome of therapy. Positive alliances increase the likelihood of resolution and positive outcomes from therapy. A negative alliance will produce a less than expected result. The therapeutic alliance is based on the bond that is created between the client and the clinician. Having a positive therapeutic alliance and a strong theoretical rationale, a family therapist can join efforts with those of their client(s) and together they can achieve their goals. Therapeutic alliance in family therapy: together we can clearly understand the definition of alliance. The therapeutic alliance is defined as the mutual investment of the therapist and the client in the pursuit of the client's goals. The implications for the therapist of developing this alliance go beyond the caring relationship that is empathetic, authentic, and respectful. In the area of ​​therapeutic alliance, the therapist essentially creates a personal and emotional relationship with the client within the confines of his or her ethical standards of practice. For the family therapist, the therapeutic alliance can seem complicated. The family therapist must create the alliance with each member of a family as well as with each subgroup within the family....... middle of paper ......em to conform to a precise mold. This means that the therapist and family express a “together we can” approach to therapy and outcome. Within the therapeutic alliance, the clinician-client relationship can be critical to the outcome of therapy. If a client does not feel that their feelings, expressions, and/or thoughts matter to the therapist, there is no alliance, much less a relationship. When a client feels invested, it can certainly change the outcome of therapy. For example, if a client comes to therapy with feelings of inadequacy, lack of visibility, and indifference, if the therapist treats them the same way, it is very unlikely that the client will return to that clinician. One study (Friedlander, Bernardi, & Lee, 2010) showed that outcomes were more negative when clients felt a lack of clinician engagement and involvement in the session..