| A Therapeutic Relationship in Client Centred terms | | | | So how can you trust a professional you haven't yet |
| should be equal, that is to say, it should be based on | | | | met? Well many Therapists now have a website, on |
| mutual respect and integrity. Trust is a prerequisite but | | | | that they will describe how they work, the philosophies |
| comes later, usually after some testing out by the | | | | they believe in and the way they interact with clients. It |
| client. Useful questions might be "Do I feel safe sharing | | | | is true to say that you will only know for sure once |
| my feelings with this professional"? or "Will my cultural | | | | you actually engage with them, however there are |
| beliefs and views be valued"? Any true Client Centred | | | | other ways to get a feel for them as a person and as |
| Therapist should have no problem helping a client to | | | | a professional. They may come with a personal |
| answer yes to both of those questions, thus creating | | | | recommendation, or they may have testimonials on |
| the foundations for a trusting Therapeutic Relationship. | | | | their website from people they have helped in the past. |
| Carl Rogers the American Psychologist and founder | | | | These can be a good source of information and can |
| of Client Centred Therapy, stated that the Therapeutic | | | | give some insight into how they work. |
| Relationship, along with some basic Core Conditions | | | | Spending some time choosing a Therapist that gives |
| were all that were needed for Therapeutic change to | | | | you a sense of calm can often be well worth the |
| occur. A Therapeutic Relationship is a term used to | | | | effort, it will help you to get a sense of who they are |
| describe what can only be described as something | | | | as a person and the way in which they work. It will |
| very special. The client should have no hesitation in | | | | mean that if and when you do choose to work with |
| feeling able to be Real or Authentic with the Therapist, | | | | them, you will already have an understanding of what |
| how else can they expect to build trust and gain | | | | they are about. |
| benefit from the sharing experience. | | | | |