Therapeutic Alliance with Youth with Mild Intellectual Disability or Borderline Intellectual Functioning: A Scoping Review

Introduction: This scoping review aimed to describe the literature on therapeutic alliance with youth with MID-BIF, focusing on how therapeutic alliance is conceptualized, operationalized, and studied in this population. Methods: We systematically searched seven databases. We extracted and double-coded data on therapeutic alliance conceptualization and operationalization, study aims, methodology, and key findings. Results: Of the 1521 studies assessed, 18 met our eligibility criteria. Most of these were published from 2020 onwards. Studies were diverse in terms of conceptualizations, disciplinary backgrounds, methodologies, nature of the samples, and findings. Most studies used qualitative methodologies (72.2%). Although most studies reported on interventions that directly targeted youth, therapeutic alliance with youth was assessed in only 33.3% of studies. Conclusion: Research on therapeutic alliance with youth with MID-BIF is on the rise. We identify priorities for strengthening future research, such as a more unified conceptual framework, more explicit methodological decisions, and more quantitative research.