The Therapeutic Alliance- Your Key to Effective Therapy

In your search for a therapist, you’re likely to see a lot of acronyms and advertisements of specific treatment models- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)…the list can go on!  Each model gives a framework for addressing mental health concerns, each offers evidence of effectiveness, and each also has its limitations.  And if multiple therapists have training in the same therapy models, how do we choose which one is right for us?

This is where the relationship between you and your therapist comes in.  We call this the Therapeutic Alliance or Therapeutic Relationship.  And in fact, this relationship is more important to the effectiveness of therapy and client satisfaction than any specific therapy model or therapist training/education. Why is the relationship more important than the model? Because a safe and supportive relationship can serve as a foundation for greater self-awareness and relational healing- which is why many people come to therapy in the first place (whether they realize it or not). 

What does a healthy therapeutic relationship look like?  Ideally, your therapist should have a generally positive attitude toward you, be able to understand and validate your feelings, while also challenging you to change and grow in the ways that you want to.  A good relationship with a therapist is one in which you generally feel safe to open up and share your thoughts and feelings.  There should be very little judgement from your therapist and if you offer feedback or suggestions, they should be able to respond with grace and appreciation.  A good therapeutic relationship is one where boundaries are respected and expectations and practice policies are clear.

Recently an organization that I partner with offered my clients the opportunity to rate our therapeutic alliance.  Want to see how they scored me? Read more about that HERE.

If you’re looking for a therapist who can create a safe space for you to be yourself reach out to schedule a consultation (HERE) and see what this could mean for you.