Child–therapist alliance and clinical outcomes in cognitive behavioral therapy for child anxiety disorders

Abstract

Few studies have examined the link between child-therapist alliance and outcome in manual-guided cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for children diagnosed with anxiety disorders. This study sought to clarify the nature and strength of this relation. The Therapy Process Observational Coding System for Child Psychotherapy - Alliance scale (TPOCS-A; McLeod, 2005) was used to assess the quality of the child-therapist alliance. Coders independently rated 123 CBT therapy sessions conducted with 34 children (aged 6-13 years) diagnosed with anxiety disorders. Parents reported on children's symptomatology at pre- mid-, and post-treatment. A stronger child-therapist alliance early in treatment predicted greater improvement in parent-reported outcomes at mid-treatment but not post-treatment. However, improvement in the child-therapist alliance over the course of treatment predicted better post-treatment outcomes. The quality of the child-therapist alliance assessed early in treatment may be differentially associated with symptom reduction at mid- and post-treatment. Results underscore the importance of assessing the relation between alliance and outcome over the course of therapy to clarify the role the child-therapist alliance plays in child psychotherapy.