If you’re new to therapy or recently seeing a new therapist, you may be wondering what to expect from the therapist/patient relationship. You may also want to know what you can do to develop the kind of therapeutic relationship that makes you feel 100% comfortable and helps you achieve the goals that brought you to therapy in the first place. The therapeutic relationship should be professional, respectful, and trustworthy. Understanding the mutual responsibilities that you and your therapist have to each other can help you with realistic expectations and lay the foundation for building a productive and relationship with your therapist that makes therapy a safe space for all your needs.
Understanding The Responsibilities of the Therapist & the Patient
Therapy works best when both the therapist and the patient understand their individual responsibilities and work together towards the collective goals set by you both. Your therapist has a responsibility to provide:
- Empathy and trust - Your therapist has the responsibility of understanding your feelings, emotions, and ideas—and making you feel understood. Your therapist will use different techniques and guided conversations to help you feel comfortable. Everything your therapist does, from their chosen method of communication to their body language and tone of voice, will make a difference in how safe you feel. They are also responsible for keeping your therapeutic environment a relaxing, confidential, and non-judgmental place.
- Knowledge - You look to your therapist as a professional that will bring you unbiased insight and a wealth of ideas to help you improve your mental health. You should expect them to help you identify practical solutions to your problems and strategies for helping you cope with situations that burden you. You can expect your therapist to use their continuing education requirements as an opportunity to stay up-to-date on best practices and learn ways to improve how they provide mental health care.
- Adherence to moral & legal requirements - Counselors and mental health providers are part of a list of professions required by law to report any suspicion or knowledge of abuse or neglect of children or the elderly. They are also bound by HIPAA laws to keep identifiable health information private—including mental health information. Licensed counselors and therapists are required by their licensure boards to maintain continuing education to keep their licenses active and unencumbered. Mental health professionals are responsible for adhering to personal boundaries that keep the patient-therapist relationship strictly professional and facilitate a safe environment for their patients.
As a patient, you have responsibilities that ensure your therapist can do their job to the best of their ability and give you all the benefits of therapy. Your responsibilities include:
- Open and honest communication - It is difficult to open up, especially when speaking to a near-stranger about some of your life's most personal, intimate, or scary topics. It is important to be as transparent as possible so your therapist can make a complete assessment and help you reach your goals in the most effective way. Honesty is always the best policy—and this is particularly important when it comes to your patient-provider relationship concerning physical and mental health.
- Doing your homework - Therapy doesn't end when your session ends. It is an ongoing process that involves you implementing strategies discussed between you and your therapist during your visits. Your therapist will often assign you "homework". For example, trying strategies for coping techniques or keeping a journal.
- Coming prepared - Therapy can ignite strong and possibly unexpected feelings. Prepare for experiencing these feelings as you work towards your goals. Understand that your therapist is there to guide you through these feelings, and help you develop healthy coping mechanisms. Therapists and counselors are accustomed to witnessing all emotions and are professionals when it comes to balancing empathy with objectivity.
Results of a Positive Patient-Therapist Relationship
By understanding your individual and mutual responsibilities to each other, you and your therapist can develop a positive working relationship that improves your life. The results of this are that you get all the benefits that therapy offers, including improving your mental and physical health, strengthening relationships, healing from past traumas, and finding ways to cope with stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and more. If you or someone you know is in the Nevada or California areas and ready to start working with a therapist to improve your life, reach out to Medens Health via our contact page or call (833) 624-5400.
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