31.

Explain the importance of the therapeutic relationship in psychotherapy. State the ethical standards in psychotherapy.

The special relationship between the client and the therapist is known as the therapeutic relationship or alliance. It is contractual in nature and the therapeutic alliance is limited to therapy only. This relationship is neither a passing acquaintance nor along with term relationship and it is very significant as :

a) It is a trusting and confiding relationship. The high level of trust enables the client to unburden herself/himself to the therapist and confide her/his psychological and personal problems to the latter.

b) The therapist has the unconditional positive regard for the client, he/she conveys through words and body language that the client is not being judged, which enable the client which allows the client the open up which he/she might not be able to with the other persons

c) The confidentiality which is apart of a therapeutic relationship allows the client to unveil the things which he/she could never do with others.

Hence the relationship between the client and the therapist allows to client to open up and share which he/she needs to share since it acts like a bridge that will allow the therapist to explore the problems and engage in solving those problems.