Caveat: The therapeutic alliance is fraught with multi-faceted variables, many of which rest on the clinician’s shoulders. A skilled therapist spends time orienting the client to the purpose of therapy, reviewing and revising treatment goals as needed, asking for feedback regarding the pace and style of the intervention, providing resources to practice outside the therapy hour, and paying attention to the nuances of race, culture, body language, childhood dynamics, and what the client does not reveal during session.