Why is a Therapeutic Alliance Important?
What is a therapeutic alliance and why is it important?
So, you’ve made the decision to attend therapy but you’re not exactly sure what to expect. You might be feeling a bit nervous about the whole experience and unsure if you’ve made the right decision or not. Whilst each therapist and therapy session can be diversely different, you can expect one thing to remain consistent – the therapeutic alliance.
What is a therapeutic alliance?
You might not have heard of a ‘therapeutic alliance’ as an actual thing, but in reality, it is very important. The therapeutic alliance is the trusting and collaborative relationship developed between a therapist and their client that creates a secure foundation for therapeutic progress. Without it, therapy is very challenging if not impossible.
How does a therapeutic alliance develop?
A respectful relationship is developed through the following elements:
- Positive rapport: Active listening, a supportive environment and a non-judgemental approach are essential to establishing positive rapport between the therapist and the client.
- Goals that are agreed upon by the therapist and the client: The client and therapist must be working towards the same goals for therapeutic growth. Without this agreeance, the purpose of the therapy would be unclear and compromise the pathway of therapy.
- A realistic approach towards expectations: If a client attends therapy with several concerns that they want addressed, it is unrealistic to expect that these concerns will be ‘fixed’ within a few sessions. Whilst improvements can be seen with some concerns quickly, there are a lot of variables that may impact the speed that therapy goals are attained. Patience and persistence is required!
- Responsibility for progress towards the goals is shared: The therapist and the client must both take responsibility for the goal progression. The client must be active in their own healing and progress, under the guidance of the therapist. The client also needs to apply the therapeutic skills into their everyday life for true progress to occur.
Why is the therapeutic alliance important?
The therapeutic alliance is critical to help you get to your therapy goals. Therapy outcomes are improved if you are actively involved. With a strong therapeutic alliance, you are more likely to implement the therapy recommendations into your everyday life. If you feel supported by your therapist, then you are more likely to step out of your comfort zone and try some of the suggested therapeutic interventions.
Should I like my therapist?
Yes, you should, but with limitations. It is not easy to open up and be vulnerable with a person you don’t like, but sometimes your therapist will make you feel uncomfortable with some of the questions and things they suggest. This is fine and you need to understand that being pushed outside of your comfort zone can also be part of personal growth during therapy. It’s important for you to remember that the therapist cannot be your friend. Friendly, yes, but friend, no.
It’s important for you to consider why you don’t like you therapist. Do they challenge you to explore areas you might not be ready to? Do you feel like they are judging you? Are they not as professional as you might expect? You might need to go through a process of trial and error to find the right therapist for yourself, but don’t give up! Continuing to look for the right connection is important – you’ve taken that first step to get help so don’t stop now if the therapist is not quite the right fit for you.
If you would like to see which one of our therapists might be a good match for you, please contact our team at Progressive Psychology on 0477 798 932 to make an appointment with one of our friendly psychologists today.
Jacki Noney is a Provisional Psychologist at Progressive Psychology.