An Analysis of the Working Alliance in MDMA-Assisted Therapy - Ingmar Gorman

The working alliance is examined as a primary therapeutic factor in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. This relationship, conceptualized through goal, task, and bond dimensions, is identified as a robust predictor of clinical outcomes across diverse psychotherapy modalities. To rigorously evaluate this dynamic, observers utilize the Segmented Working Alliance Inventory, which allows for granular, time-based assessment throughout therapy sessions. This observational approach helps identify ruptures in the patient-therapist bond, which, when addressed, can promote emotional processing and therapeutic progress rather than causing patient dropout. The presentation highlights a case study illustrating how this monitoring framework captures moments of connection, tension, and relational repair during experimental drug-assisted therapy sessions.