Relationship Processes in Youth Psychotherapy: Measuring Alliance, Alliance-Building Behaviors, and Client Involvement

This study explores hypothesized associations among therapist engagement strategies, therapeutic alliance, client involvement, & treatment outcome in a randomized clinical trial comparing cognitive behavioural psychotherapy & nondirective psychotherapy for adolescents with depressive symptoms who have attempted suicide. Ratings from audiotapes & self-report of the first four sessions for 23 adolescents were used. Results suggest there may be variation in effective relationship factors, depending on the specific therapeutic approach. (105 refs.)