Pope Ch. 5

Question 1

7 forms of therapist/counselor power

Answer 1

1. Power conferred by the state
2. Power to name and define (e.g., to diagnose)
3. Power of testimony
4. Power of knowledge
5. Power of expectation
6. Therapist-created power (e.g., token economies, setting boundaries for the therapeutic relationship)
7. Inherent power differential

Question 2

Why trust is crucial in the therapeutic relationship

Answer 2

Risk and reward go hand-in-hand. Therapy is analogous to surgery. It requires opening-up, becoming vulnerable, which means it carries risk. For the client, committing to that risk is an act of courage and, in a way, self-surrender. Trust can be thought of as a medium, or environment, that carefully safeguards the courage and self-surrender of the client.

Question 3

Seymour Sarason on caring, compassion, and empathy

Answer 3

Seymour Sarason made recommendations on how to encourage and develop caring, compassion, and empathy in clinical training programs. This topic is important because there is evidence that, at least in certain contexts, these qualities may actually decline over time.

Question 4

Relationship between trust, power, caring, and healing

Answer 4

They go hand-in-hand. Trust safeguards the client’s courageous self-surrender. Power is unavoidable and should be exercised responsibly (with power comes responsibility)––with awareness and good moral discretion. And caring, or the basic desire to do good, is fundamental to fostering trust, exercising power, and ultimately enabling healing.