An Introduction to the Therapeutic Relationship in Counselling and Psychotherapy

Stephen Paul has recently retired as  Director of The Centre for Psychological Therapies at Leeds Metropolitan University after 20 years of  service.   He is a client-centred psychotherapist. He is co-editor of The Therapeutic Relationship: Themes and Perspectives (PCCS , 2008) and  The Therapeutic Relationship Handbook: Theory and (McGraw-Hill /OUP ,2014). Stephen was instrumental in developing a Relational Approach to Therapy with Geoff Pelham (1999).. He has worked extensively in both adult and child & adolescent psychiatry. He has been  head of a therapeutic school  and  was Director of the VSO programme in Bhutan. Stephen now writes, practises therapy, supervision and coaching, and provides training.Divine Charura is professor of counselling psychology and programme director for the doctorate in counselling psychology at York St John University. He is a chartered counselling psychologist and registered psychotherapist and has co-authored and edited numerous books in counselling and psychotherapy.

Stephen Paul and Divine Charura are to be congratulated on producing this almost ′encyclopaedic′ work reflecting upon the importance and complexity of the relationship within therapy. Suitable for students and experienced therapists alike, this text is illuminated with ′clips′ relating to client and practitioner experiences, theoretical issues and research outcomes. Most importantly, the authors have provided a non-theoretical school/ modality based approach in full recognition of the therapeutic equivalency across therapeutic styles and in pursuit of exploring and  articulating the critically important element of relationship in therapy. A wonderful resource and contribution to current professional literature.

• Introduction:The therapeutic relationship in counselling and psychotherapyIntroducing the Therapeutic RelationshipIntroducing the therapeutic relationshipWhat the research tells usThe relationship in different modalitiesA relational approach to therapyDevelopmental factors in a relational approachEstablishing and Maintaining the RelationshipEstablishing the relationshipDeveloping the relationshipChallenges to the relationship: When things get trickyEnding the relationshipThe Relationship in ContextThe therapist’s self in relationshipWorking with difference within the therapeutic relationship: A relational perspectiveDeveloping your PracticeAppendix 1Glossary of termsAppendix 2 Conclusions and Recommendations of the Interdivisional (APA Divisions 12 & 29) Task Force on Evidence-Based Therapy Relationships