It is increasingly understood that at the root of hope for recovery from a mental health disorder is the therapeutic alliance created by the partnership of the clinician, the patient, and the family and their engagement in the process of care.1,2 Elements of a therapeutic alliance and utilization of mental health services include access and availability of the clinician; a shared belief in what has caused the disability; a common understanding of the possible therapies and their effectiveness; trust in the relationship between healer and the one to be healed; and an understanding of what needs to be done, how it is to be done, and the time course.
