BP #9 - Therapeutic Relationship

Yesterday in class, we discussed a lot about therapeutic relationship and how this relationship differs from others. A therapeutic relationship is the relationship between a therapist and his/her client. This relationship is different from others because the goal of therapeutic relationship is for one person (the client) to benefit. This means that the therapist is always keeping the clients well-being a top priority by helping them achieve his/her goals. It is important to develop trust in therapeutic relationships. You can develop trust by following though with plans, being punctual, honest, always involving client in decisions, and by using clear language they can understand. Therapeutic relationship is an umbrella term and going along with that under the umbrella is therapeutic use of self. Therapeutic use of self is planned use of therapists' personality, insight, and interpersonal skills to connect with the client in a way that becomes an effective tool in the intervention process. In short, it is the art of relating to clients. I personally believe therapeutic use of self sets apart a good therapist from a great therapist. Inability to connect with the client can result in ineffective treatment outcomes. I recognize the importance and strategy to using therapeutic use of self and look forward to utilizing this as I continue my journey to become an OT.