title: Treatment Engagement: Building Therapeutic Alliance in Home-Based Treatment with Adolescents and their Families.
abstract: Client engagement is an essential yet challenging ingredient in effective therapy. Engaged clients are more likely to bond with therapists and counselors, endorse treatment goals, participate to a greater degree, remain in treatment longer, and report higher levels of satisfaction. This study explored the process of engaging high-risk youth and their parents in a unique home-based family therapy intervention. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 19 families who completed family therapy sessions that included a core component aimed at increasing treatment engagement. Parents' and youths' perceptions of engagement suggest the importance of developing therapeutic alliance with therapists, who facilitated building a shared alliance among family members. Implications for improving client engagement are discussed within the context of alliance building with the therapist and among family members.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, 1717 W. 6th Street Suite 335, Austin, TX 78703, USA.
authors.forename: Sanna J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bender
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lantry
authors.forename: Patrick M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Flynn