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How Do Therapists Ally With Adolescents In The Context Of Family Therapy? : An Examination Of Relational Control Communication Patterns, Cristina Muniz

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The creation and maintenance of a strong therapeutic alliance is one of the most robust predictors of successful treatment for adult (Horvath & Bedi, 2002) and adolescent (Karver, Handelsman, Fields, & Bickman, 2006) clients across diverse therapy formats and presenting problems. However, research on the alliance with adolescents lags far behind research with adults, particularly in the context of family therapy. Because of the supported efficacy of family therapy for diverse adolescent problems (Shelef et al., 2005), the present study examined the association between observed therapist-adolescent alliances and relational control communication in the context of conjoint family therapy. Relational control …