A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinician behaviors and characteristics related to alliance building with youth clients.

The literature on developing alliance with youth clients has severely lagged behind that of adults. To date, there has been no meta-analytic review and limited qualitative synthesis of clinician variables which may contribute to the alliance with youth clients. Systematic literature search found a total of 49 relevant citations. Of the identified articles, 13 (27.08%) reported quantitative methods. Results of the qualitative review suggested that the majority of this research has focused on developing an emotional bond and a sense of collaboration. Meta-analysis found significant relations between alliance building and reducing variables and alliance (r = 0.17; r = -0.24). This analysis revealed specific behaviors particularly facilitative to youth alliance development, including collaborating with the client, finding common ground, exploring subjective experiences, orienting to treatment, providing praise, and enhancing facilitative conditions. In contrast, clinician lapse and pushing the client to talk were most predictive of a worse alliance. These results indicate certain behaviors which may be particularly important for clinicians to facilitate and not impair youth alliance formation. There is a need for greater youth alliance formation research to better determine how alliance formation may differ across stages of development and treatment modalities.