The Importance of the Therapeutic Relationship in CBT

Are you looking for change? Do you want to feel better and improve your life?

If so, you may be looking into therapy as a way to achieve these changes.When starting your search for a psychologist, it is possible to get confused and overwhelmed by the large number of therapies available to you.

As you research your options, you’ll read about some of the most popular types of therapy available including CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and psychodynamic therapy and you also may read about art therapy, equestrian therapy, and the list can go on and on and on.

In fact, you may even feel more anxious as you look over therapist profiles and websites.

How do you know which way to go?

As you search for the best type of therapy for you, you may wonder what kind of techniques, coping skills, strategies, and insights will be the best fit. Before you over-analyze your options, remember that it is the therapeutic relationship that keeps someone in therapy and it is that relationship that lays the foundation for change. Change does not happen without trust. Trust is the most important factor. If you want to change your life you are probably not going to listen to someone who you do not trust.

In fact, as your read about different therapy types, remember they are based on theories and the theories are attempts to understand your predicaments, symptoms, issues, or whatever you want to call them.

It’s the theories that lay the foundation for the therapy techniques. I remember when I was in graduate school and learning about the various theories and thinking that you can take the same person with the same symptoms and put them in different therapy models and they will all achieve success. The different therapies just happen to call the methods of change different names.

The bottom line is that no matter what type of therapy you chose, as long as you trust your therapist, your work together is very likely to result in change. When you make a commitment to working on yourself and are completely honest and open with your therapist, you will get better.

Don’t underestimate the power of the relationship. At times, it can take a while to develop that trust, also known as a “therapeutic alliance”. Don’t disregard this process as unimportant, in fact you are laying the foundation for great change and self growth so honor it.

Sure, techniques are helpful and interesting and being able to be yourself, be seen and heard, validated and respected go a long, long way.

Some people may have a misconception that CBT is just a set of techniques, but that is not the case. As a CBT therapist, I know that trust is key. For any therapy, to be good and effective and helpful we need to trust. Only when we trust can we grow. We all know that change is hard, even when we really want to change and having a trusted therapist to walk with you and share the journey, is what it’s all about.

If you want to schedule a free consultation, please click on “Book Online Now” to schedule an initial phone consultation.