The Therapeutic Relationship

As Corey (2013) discusses, the person-centered approach, may develop a therapist who’s role will be to direct the treatment process rather than challenging clients. Further, therapists could be found in a difficult position, in order to give permission to their clients to find their own way through therapy “ particularly when they are choices that the therapist hoped for p.202 as cited Corey (2013). Finally a primary issue will be a nondirective, passive therapist who will not be able to provide effective treatment as this approach is based on authenticity and congruence. However the argument put forward from Seligman (2006) states that there are a lot of reasons to consider Roger’s person centered approach as a simplistic and unrealistically optimistic approach in therapy. Accordingly to Seligman (2006) by providing empathic listening and genuine caring for the client, cannot be considered as factors for an adequate treatment with long-term results. Further, the approach cannot be useful for clients that have significant psychopathological problems; also by providing unconditional positive regard, therapists develop a utopian world for clients which is far from the real world, above all Seligman ( 2006) in his discussion claims that because of the lack of techniques this approach is not

Person-centred therapy came about through Roger’s theory on human personality. He argued that human experiences were valuable whether they were positive or negative so long as they maintained their self actualising tendency. Through one’s experiences and interactions with others Roger believed that a self-concept/regard was developed. Carl Rogers believed that a truly therapeutic relationship between client and counsellor depends on the existence, of three core conditions. The core conditions are important because they represent the key concepts and principles of person-centred therapy. These core conditions are referred to as congruence, unconditional positive regard and empathy. Congruence is when the therapist has the ability to be real and honest with the client. This also means that the therapist has to be aware of their own feelings by owning up to them and not hiding behind a professional role. For example, a therapist may say ‘I understand where you are coming from’’ to the client. However the therapist has expressed a confused facial expression while saying this. The clients can be become aware of this and may feel uncomfortable in expressing their feelings, which might impact their trust and openness towards the therapist. Therefore the major role of the therapist is to acknowledge their body language and what they say and if confusion happens the therapist needs to be able to

The whole reason for a therapeutic relationship is to facilitate a successful patient outcome. Each person is unique and has different needs.

In the very early years of the person-centred approach, the direction and goals of the therapy were very much determined by the client, with the therapist’s role being to assist the client in clarifying their feelings. This approach of non-directive therapy was associated with a greater self-exploration, increased understanding, and improved self-concept. Further development of person centred therapy has seen a shift in concentration toward the core conditions assumed to be both necessary and sufficient for successful therapy (Cox, Bachkirova & Clutterbuck, 2010)

In this essay, I am going to give a structured reflective account on the development of a therapeutic relationship with a client on one of my clinical placements as part of my training as a student nurse. I will be using a reflective model which explores the processes involved in developing and maintaining such relationships bearing in mind theoretical knowledge and how it applies to this clinical experience. Jasper (2003) describes reflective practice as one of the ways that professionals learn from experience in order to understand and develop their practice. As a trainee health care professional, I have learnt the importance of reflection in

Creating together with the client the optimal conditions for this process is the job of the person centered therapist (Tudor & Worral, 2006). It is remarkable that the person centered approach appears to be compatible with several philosophical trends: European existentialism and structuralism, the approach of Buddhism, Hinduism, and other totally different philosophies and ways of living (Tudor & Worral, 2006). The link is the central idea that the person is a unique organism with the tendency of growing towards fully functioning status. The human organism is active and actualizing, tending towards greater order, complexity, and interrelatedness in the universe. Actualizing is also a biological concept. According to Tudor et al. (2006) actualizing works unselfconsciously and can be activated and experienced in psychotherapy. The self is a philosophical concept we need to explain ourselves by internal dialogue and reflection. In PCT we make an entity of it by making the self both the subject and object that we have to actualize. The mutual process of the therapeutic relation is the central theme to PCT and other psychotherapeutic theories. Both client and therapist must contribute their necessary conditions for therapeutic change to take

These correct conditions which are required within person centred therapy in order that the client can achieve self actualisation and personality change were outlined by Carl Rogers and he believed that if this 6 conditions were met, it would facilitate change within the client: Two persons are in psychological contact- both client and counsellor are present physically and psychologically. The client is in a state of incongruence, (which will be discussed in more detail) the communication of the counsellor’s empathetic understanding and unconditional positive regard is met at a minimal level. The last condition mentioned involves 3 other conditions, which are essential attitudes and qualities necessary for the counsellor to posses for successful therapy; empathic understanding, unconditional positive regard and congruence. (Rogers C, 1957).

Person centred counselling is therefore focused upon the individuals counsellors own qualities and interpersonal skills over the specific mode in which these qualities and skills are used in relation to clients. This can mean that person centred counselling is hard to put into practice as the approach does not rely on techniques but relies upon the personal qualities of the counsellor as there are no strict theoretical guidelines which state exactly how a counsellor must act in order help their clients (The British Association for the Person-centred Approach, 2015). Moreover, Rogers did not like the idea of the approach staying the same and advocated the disliked the idea of the approach standing still, and was a strong advocate of modification of the theory. A number of different approaches to person-centred counselling have emerged, with each approach taking a slightly different perspective on how to help the client. Although these branches of person centred counselling share the same underlying ideas of the original theoretical perspective each one offers a different method of person centred counselling (Gillon, 2007). Therefore, it is generally only the personal qualities and skills of the counsellor which transfer between each subdivision in person centred counselling rather

In order for the counseling relationship to work, building a therapeutic relationship with Taneka is essential for the counseling relationship to be effective. Important competencies to build a therapeutic relationship include, but are not limited to, empathy, listening skills, trustworthiness, care and concern, ethical behavior, genuineness, sincerity, congruence, support, and encouragement (Knapp, 2015). These core competencies support building rapport by creating an encouraging, respectful, and collaborative space for the client (Knapp, 2015). In addition, core communication skills help to open up the conversation and help to build rapport or a meaningful connection (Knapp, 2015).

Helping gain insight is the main goal for interpersonal therapy. This treatment focuses on current relationships and helping people with their relationship skills. Many causes for people being depressed, going to this therapy are from the loss of loved ones, or even divorce. Express or solving problems make this session easier to deal with. They teach people ways of interacting with others. “The therapist asks a client to consider new perspectives on themselves and their place in this world” (Braun 1). They do this as a way to show you are important and you need to just think about it in a positive

The conditions apply, in fact, in any situation in which the development of the person is a goal (Rogers, 1959, 1961). Here is a brief summary from the point of view of psychotherapy, but the description applies to all of the foregoing relationships. The first element has to do with genuineness, realness, or congruence. The more the therapist is him or herself in the relationship, putting up no professional front or personal facade, the greater is the likelihood that the client will change and grow in a constructive manner. The second attitude of importance in creating a climate for change is acceptance, or caring or prizing--unconditional positive regard. It means that when the therapist is experiencing a positive, nonjudgmental, accepting attitude toward whatever the client is at that moment, therapeutic movement or change is more likely. . . . The third facilitative aspect of the relationship is empathic understanding. This means that the therapist senses accurately the feelings and personal meanings that are being experienced by the client and communicates this acceptant understanding to the client. (Rogers, 1986). Additional assumptions, beliefs and hypotheses that are central to the person-centered approach are the following:

Before beginning the helping session with my client, I held many positive beliefs about therapy and helping. From a young age, I always loved the idea of counselling and helping people. As a career, I chose to become an educator because I really want to help students and counsel them as they prepare for adulthood and life after school. I have many friends who tell me that I should be a counselor or helper because I am a good listener and I am good at offering advice. Many people feel as if they can confide confidential information with me. In essence, helping comes natural to me. Even when I was younger, people would comment on my authenticity which Rogers mentions is necessary in client-centered therapy. Overall, I believe

A therapeutic relationship is an essential component of any successful health care intervention and this holds no more truth than in the relationship between nurse and patient. As registered nurses we are not trained counsellors, however we do have an understanding of basic counselling skills and how they are applied at a ward level and as such it is more important as a registered nurse to establish a proactive therapeutic relationship with a patient than it is to use an appropriate counselling approach. This paper will examine what counselling is, the role of the nurse counsellor, the basic counselling skills used by registered nurses and the differences in counselling approaches.

the therapeutic relationship. Knowing this will create an open communication with my clients in where they are ready to start the therapeutic journey.

It really helped me to understand more about hallucinations, and its complication. Furthermore, the experience like this will make us ready for the next step. I believe that I will add more experience on top of this and help patients. The first thing I will do to help patients with this kind of situation is that I will develop a therapeutic relationship with patients based on sympathy and trust. Because once I developed a good relationship with patients, it would be easier to work patients then provide care for them. Furthermore, I will implement the communication model of SOLER, which sits squarely, open posture, lean towards the other, eye contact, relax, to build a therapeutic relationship with patients.