Tensions and crises in the therapeutic relationship inevitably occur in the course of any psychotherapy. Such "alliance ruptures" offer the chance for a corrective emotional experience, but at the same time carry a high risk of premature discontinuation of therapy and poor therapy outcomes. Therapists often do not manage to deal with it constructively. The author describes concepts, helpful techniques and innovative didactic methods such as alliance-focused training and a test for measuring interpersonal skills of therapists. Case studies illustrate the content.