Physical therapists have long known that patient-related beliefs and emotions, such as catastrophizing and fear, can negatively affect treatment outcomes for people with musculoskeletal conditions such as low back pain. Most of the research to date has focused on patient-related beliefs, with the interaction between the patient and the therapist (the therapeutic alliance) much less studied. The recent PTJ article "Enhanced Therapeutic Alliance Modulates Pain Intensity and Muscle Pain Sensitivity in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: An Experimental Controlled Study" reported on a controlled trial that explored the therapeutic alliance and its potential impact on low back pain relief. In this podcast, lead author Jorge Fuentes discusses the results of this trial with Paulo Ferreira, an author of a retrospective observational study on the therapeutic alliance published in PTJ in April 2013, and moderator and PTJ Editorial Board member Steven George. The group also discusses tools that clinicians can use to measure the quality of the therapeutic alliance and ways that clinicians can maximize the effects of the therapeutic alliance.