A Few Thoughts on the “Therapeutic Relationship”

Healing happens when we feel safety, trust, and connection. Being in a safe relationship with your therapist can offer a corrective emotional experience and set up a blueprint for future attachments/relationships. Empathy from another

person activates the change and motivation centers in the person’s brain who is receiving the empathy. When we experience safety and attunement in the therapeutic relationship, we then have a cognitive and physiological

blue print for what it looks like and feels like to be in a a safe and attuned relationship. The very nature of this kind of relationship establishes a possibility to develop other safe and attuned relationship outside of therapy.

This therapeutic relationship is most powerful when rooted in diverse, equitable, and ethical psychological framework that allows for nuanced, attuned, and trauma-focused care.

This is the exact reason why, above all other things, you need to feel safe and seen by your therapist! And if you don‘t feel totally safe or seen in therapy, you can bring this up with your therapist. If talking about this with your therapist

doesn’t feel safe, this is a great sign it is time to ask for other referrals or look for a new therapist. It’s always nice to remember that it is your therapist’s ethical duty to support you in finding a mental health care provider that can offer you

care in alignment with your needs.

Finding the “right” therapist is one of the harder parts of starting therapy. Stick with it...because once you find the right therapist for you...you’re healing and growth will organically unfold.