Therapeutic alliance and change in psychiatric symptoms in adolescents and young adults receiving drug treatment

Abstract

Background: Despite a significant literature examining the processes and outcomes of formal psychotherapeutic interventions, helping relationships outside of traditional psychotherapy settings have received less empirical attention. This study examined the effect of therapeutic alliance on client outcomes within two community-based case management services for young drug users. Methods: The impact of therapeutic alliance on substance use and mental health outcomes was assessed over two occasions in 100 young people (aged 16-22 years) receiving case management within two youth drug and alcohol services. Results: At baseline, those clients with non-substance-related mental health disorders, es..