Alliance formation with parents: limit-setting and the effect of mandated reporting

The ability of parents to cooperate in their children's treatment is not fixed, but is a potential that evolves in a clinical relationship. Such clinical work includes a hierarchy of limit-setting, ranging from education to legal intervention. The experience of an inpatient child psychosomatic service indicates that such limit-setting was relevant in more than 50% of cases, and served to enhance the alliance with parents and children.