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“Straight Up”: Enhancing Rapport and Therapeutic Alliance with Previously-Detained Youth in the Delivery of Mental Health Services

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Abstract

A strong therapeutic alliance has been shown to improve mental health treatment outcomes in adults, but this topic has not been fully explored with youth. Adolescents, particularly justice-involved youth, stand to benefit greatly from an improved treatment experience. One quality which can improve treatment is mental health providers’ interpersonal skills when attempting to build a therapeutic rapport with adolescent clients. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 youth who screened positive for mental health concerns while in juvenile detention. Four themes were identified as important to improving the therapeutic alliance: Empathy, client-directed care, sequencing, and positive rapport. Suggestions for strengthening a therapeutic alliance are provided.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute awarded to Matthew C. Aalsma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Work, University of Wisconsin, 800 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh, WI, 54901, USA

    James R. Brown

  2. Section of Adolescent Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Evan D. Holloway & Matthew C. Aalsma

  3. Professional Program in Social Work, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, WI, USA

    Tohoro F. Akakpo

Authors
  1. James R. Brown
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  2. Evan D. Holloway
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  3. Tohoro F. Akakpo
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  4. Matthew C. Aalsma
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Correspondence to James R. Brown.

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Brown, J.R., Holloway, E.D., Akakpo, T.F. et al. “Straight Up”: Enhancing Rapport and Therapeutic Alliance with Previously-Detained Youth in the Delivery of Mental Health Services. Community Ment Health J 50, 193–203 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-013-9617-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-013-9617-3

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