"What type of therapy is the best for me?" - Part 2

Choosing a therapist can be difficult due to the variety of therapy options available. It is crucial to find the therapy that best suits your needs. It's important to find the right therapy for you and your needs. 

HL Counselling and Psychotherapy offers a mix of counseling and therapy techniques tailored to your specific needs and differences. This personalized approach combines different therapeutic models to address your challenges. When chossing the therapist and therapy you want to access it may help you to understand the different styles of therapeutic approaches available to you.

The second article in this

will delve into Relational Counselling and Psychotherapy, as we aim to assist you further in determining "which therapy is most suitable for me?"

 Relational therapy

Relational therapy is based on a framework of principles, rather than a set theory. The principles include:

1. Therapeutic alliance

Studies show that the key factor in the success of therapy is the strong bond between therapist and client. As the client within the therapeutic relationship you should feel trust, support, empathy and care.

If the therapeutic relationship doesn’t feel right, it can impact on the outcomes of therapy. This is why it is important to take your time in choosing a therapist that feels right for you. Just like everyone therapeutic approach does not suit all, nor does every therapist.

1. Problems contained within Relationships

 According to relational theory, our tough experiences mostly happen in relationships. This means that our problems are not a reflection of who we are, but rather how we see ourselves in relationships. 

An example of this could be a child whom is ignored by their parents, they feel unloved and subsequently develop a view of themselves as being unworthy of love and care. Their feelings of being unworthy are present when in relation to another.

For example, isolating themselves at work for fear or others rejection. Being alone makes the feelings more bare able. For the person, the feelings of low self-worth are intrinsically linked to how they feel others perceive them or how they perceive themselves in relationships.

1. Healing within Relationships

 As Relational therapy suggests our problems are created as a product of difficult experiences within relationships, they can also be healed within a positive therapeutic relationship.

Not everyone has experienced positive relationships. Take, for instance, someone who struggled with low self-esteem and believed that others didn't like them. Through the therapeutic relationship, they have the opportunity to encounter positive experiences, receiving care, warmth, and positive regard. This can contribute to their healing process and enable them to carry forward this positive relationship experience as a model for their future interactions with others.

2. Understanding patterns within our relationships

The establishment of a strong therapeutic bond enables individuals to gain insight into their behavioral patterns within relationships as clients. It is suggested by theory that from a young age, individuals develop specific 'roles' in relationships based on early experiences and the social environment they were exposed to.

For instance, a situation where an older sibling, due to having busy parents, often takes on the role of a caregiver for their younger siblings. The parental expectations may require them to prioritize their siblings' needs over their own.

As individuals mature, they may find themselves continuing to fulfill a similar caregiving role in other relationships, consistently prioritizing others' needs over their own. This role may become ingrained in their identity, shaping them as someone who is inclined to care for others.

These roles and patterns often manifest in the therapeutic relationship. In the given scenario, the therapist might observe the client's reluctance to share personal experiences, possibly due to not wanting to burden the therapist and feeling uncomfortable with being vulnerable and in need of care within the relationship. The dynamics of the therapeutic relationship can assist therapists in gaining a deeper understanding of the client's behaviors and interactions in relationships outside of the therapy setting.

How does Relational Therapy work?

Relational therapy should not be viewed as a mere technique, but rather as the establishment of a strong therapeutic bond between you and the therapist. This bond is essential regardless of the therapist's approach or methods. Relational therapy is a fundamental element in various therapeutic modalities. Therefore, when selecting a therapist, it is crucial to choose the one with whom you feel a genuine connection.

What can Relational Therapy help with?

Relational therapy can be useful for people who have a lack of positive experiences of relationships with others, or people whom feel unsafe within relationships. Relationships are healing and being able to develop and experience a safe and warm therapeutic relationship, in which you can explore your difficulties, will aid on your therapeutic journey.

Relational approaches can aid in the development in the understanding of how we behave and appear in relationships. It can aid in the identification and understanding of our patterns in relationships and patterns which may not serve us or our needs.

Is Relational therapy available near me?

HL Counselling and Psychotherapy provides an integrative approach to therapy, which includes a Relational approach. In person appointments available at Revival Health and Wellbeing Clinic in Bawtry, Doncaster.

Appointments can be scheduled online or by phone across the UK. Contact me to arrange an appointment.