The therapeutic alliance

I agree that some misguided souls will criticize CBT clinicians for what they perceive as lowered emphasis on the therapeutic relationship.

As an REBT therapist, I follow what Ray DiGiusseppe told me once: the therapeutic alliance is helped, not hindered, by getting down to work and getting some relief for the patient.

My own theory is that a patient comes to a therapist believing that the therapist knows a "better way." The assumption is that we know something they don't, and we can teach it to them. (Of course, I am talking about motivated patients; Solution-Focused therapists would call them "consumers" as opposed to "complainants" and "visitors" if you are familiar with that terminology.) When we start teaching skills which are highly personalized and tailor-fit to the problem, we have begun to fulfill the expectation placed upon us, and the relationship is fostered.

Willie

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