The_Client_Therapist_Relationship

The Client/Therapist Relationship The art or nature of counseling is a process that is inclusive of many core tasks that include focus and steps. The first component of the counseling process is building a relationship or rapport with the client that includes trust. The client should feel they are forming a supportive partnership with their therapist in a non-threatening environment. In forming trust with the client a therapist must establish the structure and form the relationship will take. A therapist will challenge the client’s views and thought processes and should make them work towards solving problems that are causing their client’s the most pain and/or grief. The client should feel their therapist understands them and should feel empathetic versus sympathy. The nature of the therapist/client should have certain characteristics and boundaries besides trust and rapport. Client’s must get the feeling from their therapist that positive change is worth having and as well as a sense of confidence versus arrogance. An effective counselor should be honest, authentic and sincere and must project this to their clients. A therapist must be an objective observer. A client must not feel a sense of judgment from the counselor. If the client feels judged then they may end up saying what they think the counselor wants to hear instead of being honest or they may end treatment and lose respect for the counselor and/or the counseling field. A counselor is not a patient’s friend and must maintain personal and ethical boundaries. Counselors and clients should not have personal contact outside the therapy setting which includes intimate/personal relationships, phone conversations, texts, e-mail or connections on social networking sites. Healthy boundaries with clients allow the counselor to separate work from their personal life and keeps the relationship with their client from losing the respect it needs to thrive. Counselors must also explain the informed consent process, limits of confidentiality and the roles of counselor and client which would ultimately go forth by developing a collaborative alliance with their client. The second component in the counseling process is assessment and diagnosis which is to gather information to promote the awareness of client’s situation and perspective. Assessment and diagnosis is comprised of an intake that is psychosocial in nature and may include standardized psychological tests and non standardized clinical interview skills. Assessment also includes a risk assessment in which the client is analyzed for risks to include whether they are harmful to themselves or others. Lastly the assessment process includes a diagnosis. Component three of the counseling process includes formulation of the client’s treatment goals. This can also be explained to the client as what they would like to work on in counseling. The client needs to be aware they are in control of their treatment goals as long as it is therapeutic in nature. Treatment goals must be well thought out and must be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time specific and therapeutic. When the client forms their own treatment goals, it helps to foster ownership and motivation in the process of change. The fourth component of the counseling process begins as soon as treatment goals are established and includes intervention and problem solving. In this stage the plan or objective(s) to reach the treatment goals are laid out. This plan is best created by counselor and client. This stage can be educational for the client in that the counselor may offer information/interventions regarding options on client perspectives and pros and cons for each. This information should not be given in the form of advice. A counselor does not give advice. Intervention strategies are to be utilized solely by the counselor, along with forming hypotheses and deciding if and when a client’s goals are met throughout the treatment process. Treatment goals are essential to an effective treatment plan and it is up to the client’s motivation and willingness to follow it. The fifth component in the counseling process is the termination stage. In this stage the counselor must consider or may have already decided to end therapy with the client. An effective therapist must be careful not to foster dependency with the client. Terminating therapy with the client should not come as a surprise to the client and may be dictated by managed care. A termination date should be arranged in advance with the client. The role of termination is to review the client’s progress, create closure in the counselor/ client relationship and plan for the future. The termination stage can also be a way to empower and instill confidence in the client to move forward on their own accord. The therapist should always extend an invitation of an open door policy to the client in case the client needs to come back into therapy. Termination is not just for the ending of a successful therapy experience but should also be considered when the therapist feels the therapy is not working for the client. References McGrath, E. (2002, February 01). Between Client and Therapist. Psychology Today. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/node/5044 Holmes, L. (2006, June 26). Why your therapist is not your friend [Supplemental material]. About .com. Retrieved from http://mentalhealth.about.com/cs/psychotherap/a/dualrelshps.htm Schoombie, B. (1999, 16 Aug). Client Therapist Relationship [Supplemental material]. Suite101.com. Retrieved from http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/mental_health_supervision/24447