Paper Title
ENHANCING THERAPEUTIC ALLIANCE: ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DETACHMENT AMONG MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN INDIA

Abstract
Mental health professionals (MHPs) in India are highly susceptible to exhaustion from persistent, ruminative thoughts about their clients, which can undermine their therapeutic relationships. The present study investigates the influence of mental detachment from work on therapists’ working alliances with their clients, which can lead to better therapy outcomes. The study constitutes a correlational approach using 101 MHPs in Bangalore, India. Self-report questionnaires of the Psychological Detachment subscale (PD-REQ) and the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) were administered. Using linear regression analysis, the predictive relevance of detachment on the therapeutic working relationship was further evaluated. Moderate positive correlation was found between PD and WAI scores (ρ =.413, p<.001), while regression analysis showed that psychological detachment accounted for 17.2% of the variance in therapeutic alliance scores (F(1, 99) = 20.35, p <.001). MHPs who engage in greater detachment during off-hours are more likely to establish strong therapeutic connections. The present study advocates for viewing psychological detachment in a positive light within a collectivistic culture. Mental health agencies are further encouraged to promote detachment practices by setting suitable caseload thresholds and allocating enough organizational support. With the mental health field becoming more demanding, fostering detachment, especially among early-career practitioners, will be essential for reducing client-related cognitive strain and enhancing the quality of therapeutic alliances. Keywords - Psychological detachment, Working alliance, Emotional exhaustion, Therapeutic relationship