Practitioner's Perceptions of Working with Legally Mandated Substance Abuse Clients and the Impact of these Perceptions on the Formation of a Working Alliance

Abstract

This quantitative research study sought to identify what factors influence practitioners to form a working alliance with Legally Mandated Substance Abusing clients. This study utilized a multiple regression analysis to determine, if years of work experience, level of education and perceived role adequacy significant in practitioner motivation/willingness to work with and to form a working alliance with LMSA clients. A one-way analysis of variance .analyzed differences among practitioners of varied work experience and levels of education. Pearson r correlations was utilized to determine the correlation between perceived role adequacy and the motivation/willingness to work with and form a working alliance with LMSA clients. While years of work experience and level of education were statistically significant in the bi variate analyses, they were not statistically significant in the multiple regression analysis. This research study found that perceived role adequacy and motivation/willingness to work with LMSA clients were the most significant factors practitioners motivation/willingness to form a working alliance with Legally Mandated Substance Abusing clients. These findings have implications in both clinical practice and future research focused on LMSA clients.