Читать книгу Counseling and Psychotherapy - Группа авторов - Страница 27

One of the most important things a counselor or therapist (beginning or experienced) must provide to all clients is a safe and constructive therapeutic alliance. Whether the counselor or therapist follows the constructs of a specific theory or develops an integrative approach, the helping relationship must be established in a way that encourages client self-disclosure and motivation to establish and work toward the attainment of goals. No matter how much expertise a counselor or therapist has to contribute to the counseling process, the helping relationship must be established in a way that provides a safe and affirming holding environment so that the client can move toward greater self-acceptance and decision-making.

 A relationship initially structured by the counselor or therapist but open to cooperative restructuring based on the needs of the client

 A relationship that affirms the intersecting identities of the client

 A relationship in which all persons involved perceive the existence of trust, caring, concern, and commitment and act accordingly

 A relationship in which the needs of the client are given priority over the needs of the counselor or therapist

 A relationship that provides for the personal growth of all persons involved

 A relationship that provides the safety needed for self-exploration for all persons involved

 A relationship that promotes the potential of all persons involved

The major responsibility in creating this relationship rests initially with the counselor or therapist, with increasing demands for client involvement and commitment over time. It is a shared process, and only through such shared efforts will this relationship develop and flourish. This development evolves in stages that take the relationship from initiation to closure. The stages in this evolving process are the subject of the following section.