Therapeutic relationship

The most important component of therapy is the relationship between the therapist and the client. Yes, even more so than type of therapy, the experience of the therapist, or the interventions used. The American Psychological Association reviewed 16 meta-analyses of therapeutic factors concluded that relationship factors “are at least as vital to a positive outcome as using the right treatment method.”

Trust and care

If you trust that your therapist cares about you and is competent to treat you, you’re more likely to benefit from the treatment. I mean, let’s think about it the other way. If you think your therapist doesn’t care about you and doesn’t know what he is doing, then well you probably won’t share your honest opinions, your hurts, or listen to their perspective or feedback provided.

But if you truly believe your therapist wants the best for you, you’ll probably be more engaged in the therapeutic process. Trust, however, is built over time. The therapist can help create a safe space through open communication, reflective listening, and genuine care. Safety and trust isn’t just a skill, but a honest communication of one’s intentions. A good therapist will do a lot of self-reflection because they care about their work and their clients.

Just as the client comes to do the hard work of healing, acceptance, and self-growth, a therapist should strive for that in their own work and personal life. That for me is both a responsibility and privilege.

My work

Yoojin Nam LMFT is the author of Thinking to Feel. He has been providing psychotherapy for 7 years and is licensed to practice in CA & TX.

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Disclaimer: These posts are not a replacement for therapy. The information contained within is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be therapeutic advice.