JOURNAL ARTICLE

Therapeutic alliance within trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy: A systematic review.

  • Published In: Clinical Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 2025, v. 30, n. 2. P. 402 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Skiest, Hannah E; Milliken, Anna L; Limbers, Christine A 3 of 3

Abstract

This article systematically reviews quantitative studies examining the therapeutic alliance within trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) for youth, focusing on how alliance relates to treatment outcomes. The review included 15 studies from diverse international settings, revealing that early and strong child-therapist alliances are generally associated with reduced post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), lower dropout rates, and higher treatment satisfaction. It also highlights differences in alliance perceptions among children, therapists, and caregivers, with caregiver support playing a significant role in children's treatment engagement. However, the methodological quality of existing studies was generally low, and the review underscores the need for more rigorous, multi-perspective research on therapeutic alliance as a primary focus in TF-CBT.

Additional Information

  • Source:Clinical Child Psychology & Psychiatry. 2025/04, Vol. 30, Issue 2, p402
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Health and Medicine
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:1359-1045
  • DOI:10.1177/13591045251318058
  • Accession Number:184107650
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Clinical Child Psychology & Psychiatry is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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