Therapists' first impression of treatment motivation moderates the relationship between the client-rated therapeutic alliance and drinking outcomes during treatment.

Although therapists' first impressions of a client's treatment motivation are positively associated with treatment outcomes, clients' perception of the TA may mitigate the impact of poor first impressions. These findings highlight the need for additional nuanced examinations of the relationship between TA and treatment outcomes, emphasizing the contextual factors that influence this relationship.