Module 4 Rapport and Empathy

Question 1

explain dimensions of the therapeutic relationship

Answer 1

The Therapeutic Relationship;”an interactive relationship with a patient/ family that is caring, clear, boundaried, positive, and professional”. The things you will be able to help the client with, and how you as the counsellor hope to engage and interact with your client.
There are 2 dimensions to this-the Working Alliance, and the Transference Configuration.
The Working Alliance-involves the bond, the goals and the tasks. Bond is relationship between councilor and client. Goals are what client wishes to achieve. Tasks are what client needs to do to attain goals.
The Transference Configuration entails transference (client attaches emotions from previous encounters, onto counsellor)or countertransference (counsellor redirects their own emotions onto client.

Question 2

outline some strategies for rapport building with clients

Answer 2

Rapport=”mutual trust and respect”. Need to display empathy, genuineness and positive care/regard for client. Need to actively listen verbally and non verbally. Display appropriate desired entry level behaviour and not be put off by client’s entry level behaviour.

Question 3

discuss some ways of building mutual positive regard

Answer 3

Listen actively, demonstrate care and compassion, eye contact, understanding/encouraging murmurings, restatements of client statements and checking validity with them, inviting further comment/clarification, non judgemental, provide safe space, be unhurried, totally engaged in what client has to say, enquire about what is important to client and try to understand their cultural differences/preferences.

Question 4

list some methods for conveying empathy

Answer 4

Counsellor must be able to experience/appreciate client’s world, and client must be able to get message that they are understood and empathised with.
Focus and suspend any self-directed (personal) thinking. Be able to imagine how the client’s experience affected them.

Question 5

outline how culture is an essential element of the therapeutic relationship.

Answer 5

Need to respect and understand (as much a can), client’s culture as this is such a part of how they experience life, that no counselling can be truly complete without such an understanding.

Question 6

Humanistic Therapeutic Relationship

Answer 6

According to Carl Rogers;two persons in psychological contact, one of whom was in a state of incongruence (the client) and the other of whom was congruent or integrated in the relationship (the counselor). Beyond these primary states, the relationship also required that the counselor experience unconditional positive regard and empathic understanding for the client, and that these two conditions be communicated to and perceived by the client.

Question 7

Entry Level Behaviour

Answer 7

Behaviour on first meeting.Often unconscious. May be defensive/shy, untrusting/hostile/trusting/open etc etc. Often more about what we want others to think about us than our true actual self. Tends to drop away as get to trust/feel safe with someone. Need to think about how want to portray self in image/manner to client. Some of our entry level behaviours may not be conducive to forming a therapeutic relationship.
eg hostile adolescent may automatically have entry level behaviour which seeks to say “hey, notice me”, or “I’m not about to get to know you just so you can hurt me too” etc
Remember to respond to the person, and not the behaviour.
Authenticity is often unconsciously suppressed, as know that to be one’s authentic self, will harm attachment relationships (true for many but not all people).