Patients seek help from a counsellor for their psychological and emotional problems and they believe that the therapist will help them because they have the adequate training. Some of us think that they we can confide in friends or family and release our troubles through this simple sharing. So they may think that going to a counsellor is redundant. Unfortunately this is a common fallacy. Most people choose to go to a counsellor because they don’t know them and the process is cloaked to the outside world. This helps the client feel more confident about telling their story, thoughts and feelings.
The relationship between the therapist and the patient is unique and professional. The therapist will ask all details about their client’s life to help them find the best solution and outcome to their problems. However expressing everything to a stranger is not always easy even though they are a professional. Some people find it as hard as opening themselves to a therapist as anyone else in their family or friends. At this stage the quality of the relationship between the therapist and the client has an important role. The therapist is trained to encourage the patient share their experience. As the sessions go on the relationship between the client and the therapist become more natural and comfortable, this enables the patient to take more risks.
In some cases the relationship with the therapist may be quite uncomfortable. This is normal and can be sign that the patient may be recreating inside what is outside, the patterns of relating within the psychotherapeutic relationship may begin to mirror the difficulties elsewhere. This has to be made conscious by the therapist and the patient..
The therapeutic relationship is a professional relationship and both the client and the therapist have their responsibilities. The client is expected to come to the sessions on time. The therapists also have to dedicate their time and attention to the client and leave there own problems out of the session! It is the client’s right to expect to get some benefit from the therapy and it is the therapist’s duty to provide it to the patient as best they can. If you are considering counselling or psychotherapy please call us at our London counselling clinic.
