Movement Synchrony and Alliance in Problem-Focused and Solution-Focused Counseling

Abstract The present study investigated the differences in movement synchrony and therapeutic alliance between solution-focused and problem-focused counseling. Thirty-four participants each attended two counseling sessions with different counselors, one with a solution-focus and one with a problem-focus, in randomized order. The sessions consisted of three consecutive parts: problem description, standardized intervention and free intervention. Movement synchrony, including leading and pacing synchrony, was measured using Motion Energy Analysis (MEA) and windowed cross-lagged correlation (WCLC) based on video recordings of the sessions. The Helping Alliance Questionnaire (HAQ) was used to assess therapeutic alliance. Results showed that movement synchrony was higher in solution-focused than in problem-focused counseling ( p = .04), driven by differences in the problem description part. This difference may be attributed to allegiance, as we observed more leading synchrony during the problem description part in solution-focused sessions. There was no significant difference in therapeutic alliance between the two conditions. This study expands the understanding of counseling approaches in the field of behavioral synchrony and contributes valuable insights for practitioners and researchers alike.