Therapeutic Relationship

Psychology is a required course in many Indian high schools, as per the CBSE. It deals with learning about one’s identity and personality, psychological problems, and how to improve one’s mental well-being. In the next section, we’ll discuss the treatment techniques. The relationship between a therapist and patient is important to this course. We will discuss Therapeutic Approaches as well.

In psychotherapy, if we look at a therapeutic relationship, it means a client and therapist forming a mutually beneficial partnership in which the therapist treats the client. A therapeutic relationship aims to help the client resolve their psychological issues. 

The Purposes of Therapy

• Changing trends modification
• Acquiring a better understanding of oneself
• Streamlining the process of making decisions
• Changing your habits.
• Interpersonal interactions may be improved.
• Assist the customer in achieving their full potential.

Therapeutic Relationship in Psychology

Client-therapist relationships are referred to as “therapeutic”. Client-therapist relationships have a contractual aspect since they are based on helping the client resolve their difficulties.

Therapeutic Relationship Approaches

Psychodynamic treatment, behavioural therapy, and cognitive therapy are all forms of therapies, and the following features are used to classify them:

Therapeutic Psychoanalysis

One of the first forms of psychotherapy devised by Sigmund Freud, psychodynamic therapy addresses the causes of psychological discomfort, views the mind as a whole, and analyses how various parts of the psyche interact.

Behaviour Modification Therapy

Cognitive-behavioural therapies are centred on the idea that psychological suffering is caused by dysfunctional thoughts or actions on the part of the patient. Clients’ maladaptive behaviour can only be explained in terms of their prior thinking patterns and ideas, which are essential for determining the root cause of the problem. Like with Psychodynamic Therapy, there is no reliving of the past in Gestalt Therapy.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy 

According to cognitive therapy, illogical ideas and beliefs are the roots of psychological discomfort. Anxiety, panic attacks, and borderline personality disorder are just some conditions that may be treated with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). It is based on the BioPsychosocial approach and incorporates behavioural and cognitive therapy techniques into one treatment plan. CBT addresses biological, psychological, and social elements of a person’s condition.

Emotional and Cognitive Dysfunction

Albert Ellis developed Rationality-emotive therapy. Irrational beliefs can be found by interviewing the client. These beliefs alter reality; hence the first stage in this treatment is ABC (Antecedent-Behaviour-Consequence) analysis. Their psychological anguish is relieved by replacing their unreasonable belief system with a sensible one. 

Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Therapy

According to Aaron Beck’s cognitive therapy, a person’s beliefs are shaped by society, peers, and parents. These beliefs are called core schemas. For example, if kids grow up with the idea that “I am useless”, they are more likely to acquire habitual negative ideas, known as cognitive distortions that distort reality. The therapist in this scenario employs a soft and discrete method of inquiry.

Existential-Humanistic Therapy

Psychological anguish is mostly caused by emotions of isolation, alienation, and a lack of purpose and accountability in life. Here are some of the most important aspects of existential therapy:

• Self-actualisation is the human inclination to become more integrated and reach equilibrium in life. It is the idea that one may develop personally.
• Emotional expression is necessary for self-actualisation, yet society restricts it since it unleashes unpleasant emotions like rage, grief, etc.
• In humanistic therapy, the client is provided with a non-judgmental and accepting environment to express their feelings fully.
• Because the therapist is just acting as a conduit, the client is the one who ultimately determines the outcome of the session.
• Victor Frankl, a well-known psychiatrist and neurologist, established Existential Therapy, often known as Logotherapy.

This process is termed “meaning-making”, and it is the primary goal of the therapist to assist the client in discovering meaning and purpose in their lives, regardless of their circumstances.

Therapeutic Relationship Focused on the Individual

Carl Rogers provided this kind of therapy. An important component in this approach is to create an environment that allows the client to reconnect with and comprehend their disintegrating emotions. Unconditional positive regard implies that the therapist accepts the client exactly as they are; empathy means that the therapist understands the client’s difficulties from their point of view, creating a sense of safety for the client.

Healing Factors in Therapeutic Relationship

In Psychotherapy, the therapist’s chosen method and how it is carried out have a significant role in the patient’s recovery. Psychotherapy’s therapeutic factors are listed as follows:

1. The therapeutic relationship between the therapist and the client is critical since healing occurs only when the therapist is warm and empathic with the person seeking help.
2. The so-called cathartic process of fully expressing one’s feelings is essential to recover from trauma. Patient characteristics like the desire for change and hope for betterment resulting from treatment are non-specific determinants, as are therapist characteristics like friendliness and positivity.

Conclusion

The criteria mentioned above are relevant in moderate cases like Generalised Anxiety Disorders (GAD) but not in severe cases like schizophrenia. Furthermore, rehabilitative efforts are motivated by enabling clients to become useful members of society.

Occupational therapy, social skills training, vocational treatment, and cognitive training are only a few of the services provided to patients in rehabilitation. As a part of vocational treatment, clients learn employability skills. Through cognitive training, patients are taught cognitive abilities such as decision-making, memory, etc.