Therapeutic Alliance

The first main task of being a helper to clients is to try to develop a rapport with them so that they will be willing to open up to the helper about their problem. This could help to remove that possible mental barrier which could be there so that the engagement process may begin in a positive way for the clients which are in need of interventions. In my opinion, there is a bond with the helpers and their clients, however, it should always be in a professional manner and honored by ethical standards. The helper should always try to make a genuine and empathetic connection with their clients as well so that the healing process may begin. I believe the clients should have the realization that their helpers are there to advocate for them and that they are not there to judge or to criticize them.

Therapeutic relationship is defined as the collaboration and attachment between the client and therapist that focuses on meeting the health care needs of the client (Bordin, 1979). In this relationship, the therapist without prejudice shows Empathy, insight, understanding and acceptance of the client. Duan and Hill (1996) defined Empathy as “feeling into” the experience of the client. Over the years, the research evidence keeps piling up, and indicating a high degree of Empathy in a Therapeutic relationship is possibly one of the most potent factors in bringing about positive outcome in the therapy

Research has shown that a strong therapeutic alliance is necessary for establishing a beneficial contact between the therapist and the client. If the therapist does not encourage the creation of a reliable therapeutic alliance from the beginning of the treatment, it will be hard to develop a constructive relationship with the client later. Establishing the therapeutic alliance will increase the chances of achieving the goal of the treatment because the clients will be willing to cooperate if they trust and respect the therapist. Clients are not likely to cooperate with therapists who impose their authority aggressively. Instead of imposing their authority on the patient, therapists should develop work with their patients by

S T U D E N T P E R S O N A L I N F O R M AT I O N

Therapeutic alliance is an essential element of Interpersonal Psychotherapy. Wurm, Robertson, & Rushton, (2008) postulates establishing productive a therapeutic alliance is more important than any techniques. Therefore, the basic tenet of IPT is that all interventions should be therapeutic and seek to enhance the therapeutic alliance. Active listening is a critical part of building the relationship. Weissman et al., (2007) suggests that there should be an effective balance between activity and active listening. In addition to active listening, being able to communicate empathy, relate to the client’s experiences, exercising effective reflection and creative reframing also indirectly bring about therapeutic change and is will valuable to

The optimal therapeutic alliance is achieved when both the counselor and the client come to the shared beliefs with regard to the goals of treatment and view the methods as effective and relevant (Ardito & Rabellino, 2011). Within this definition the relationship becomes a bond in which the client shares belief systems surrounding treatment goals and outcomes, rather than the concentration on conventional relationship ideology. Similar to the discussion of transference and countertransference, boundaries are established to protect the client and the counselor both inside therapeutic settings and outside of the treatment realm. In examples of clients and counselors that are involved in outside support groups, confidentiality is respected to protect the therapeutic process. In other circumstances, the counselor adheres to ethical codes and standards where by protecting the relationship by conducting meetings in a professional manner and maintaining personal information about the client as agreed upon in client consent.

The therapeutic alliance also known as a therapeutic relationship is about how I as a clinician/therapist connects, behave and engage with a client and also how a client relates to the therapist (Harely Therapy, 2016). This relationship is collaborative. I remember going into the first session nervous and incompetent. In our first meeting, Sarah asked me, you are just a student and how can you help her. I remember telling her, I am being trained at university and also, I am working under the supervision of J*. I let her know that I will be transparent about things I don't know, and I will come back with answers in the next session or sessions. As Sarah shared her fears of

Therapist has to be genuine and not to have power over client so that client is able to express him or herself openly. It is essential in creating therapeutic

Therapist shall not enter into a therapeutic relationship with a client where there is undue influence to the detriment of the client or where there is a risk of exploitation or impaired judgment by the therapist. Therapist “need be particularly thoughtful to struggles that might rise during a dual relations or after a therapeutic relationship”

A confident therapist-client relationship helps people to benefit with the disorder. However, developing and maintaining the relation between therapist and client is hard even if therapist has been able to earn client’s trust.

Chapter three has a main point of informing the readers why helpers put so much focus on developing a steady relationship between the helper and client. As well as how helpers can develop those relationships. Therapeutic relationships are more critical to create than having the best

Working alliance is a part of the helping process that the therapist are encouraged to be aware in the helping process. Greenson (1967) once stated that working alliance can join together relationship itself and the relationship-as-means-to-achieving-desired outcomes. According to Bordin (1979), working alliance was teamwork between the client and the helper committed to their goals and activities that were discussed in sessions. Bedi (2006) has stated that the researcher has praised the therapist views on being the helper versus no praises to the client views. Unlike, Bedi’s study expressed how client valued the helping setting, helper’s self-presentation, helper’s education, helper’s appreciation of the client, self-responsibility, and environment of the session. However, the debate between many therapists’ views is different on working alliance.

: In relationship with the client and therapist boundaries should be addressed. The therapist must set aside all personal and bias concern about the client, depending on what particular theory is applied. The therapist’s personal beliefs and values can affect the client’s feelings.

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