USEFUL CONSTRUCTIONS OF THE CLIENT-THERAPIST RELATIONSHIP

Although different theories of psychotherapy emphasize the importance of the therapeutic relationship, these perspectives diverge when consi dering why this relationship matters clinically. This article proposes that different verbal constructions or definitions of the therapeutic relationship result in very different approaches to treatment and aff ect the way the client and therapist interact. An understanding of thi s relationship using a contemporary radical behavioral therapy, Functi onal Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP), is discussed and is contrasted with different conceptualizations of this relationship. This discussion em phasizes how specific constructions provide advantages to therapists t hat facilitate treatment and offers a distinction between the therapeu tic relationship and a friendship. A discussion of why it is important for the therapist to understand and convey this definition to the cli ent during treatment is included along with a brief description of how supervision helps the therapist gain an understanding of this relatio nship.