Cirasola, Antonella; Fonagy, Peter; (2025) Relate-Youth (Relate-Y): An Integrative, Relationship Focused Training to Strengthen the Youth-Therapist Alliance – Background and Development. Journal of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy , 24 pp. 34-53. 10.1080/15289168.2025.2473326.

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Abstract

The therapeutic alliance has demonstrated to be a pivotal factor in achieving successful outcomes in youth psychotherapy. Despite significant advancements in psychotherapy research, the translation of these findings into accessible and practical training opportunities for mental health professionals remains limited. To address this gap, Relate-Youth (Relate-Y) was developed as a relationship-focused training that integrates principles from Alliance-Focused Training (AFT) for adults with developmental and mentalization frameworks. It aims to equip therapists with the skills to foster and sustain the therapeutic alliance with young people, including the identification and resolution of ruptures. This article examines the theoretical and empirical foundations of Relate-Y, which integrates contemporary research on the therapeutic alliance with insights from developmental psychology, relational psychotherapy approaches, and mentalization theory. The training is designed to support therapists in diverse practice settings to build effective, trust-based relationships with young people. Additionally, this article outlines the core components of Relate-Y and details the plans for feasibility testing, offering a comprehensive overview of this innovative approach.

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