C O U N S E L L I N G P A P E R

* T H E R A P E U T I C A L L I A N C E -

Research Paper by KANTHAROUP Term.

Establishing an efficient relationship between client and counsellor is one of the key aspect in counselling. Every therapeutic session starts with the process of building up a therapeutic alliance. Bob Shebib defines the therapeutic alliance as a time limited period of consultation between a counsellor and one or more clients for assisting the client in achieving a defined goal (Shebib, 2014). However, to achieve successful results, a partnership that primarily focuses on the clients’ needs and goals is required. The therapist must be eager to help the clients with care and compassion while the patient also need to
Mindfulness is another important component in every types of therapy. Nowadays, many therapists follow the mindfulness based psychotherapy. Martin (1997) views that mindfulness practice can bring sympathy and can lead to a successful bonding between the client and the therapist (Martin, 1997). Therapists that master the art of mindfulness practice are capable in understand the changes that happen within the mind and spirit of the client. Mindfulness practice can also improve attention, compassion and empathy to a higher degree. Being in the present moment can make the therapist listen with a better concentration, with complete kindness and warmth while the therapist himself feeling in a blissful state of mind. They also acknowledge the feelings of the clients with a more objective and neutral mindset. Therefore, the client then can feel that they are in a safe environment to reveal their past and present issues without any fear or judgment (Silpakit, 2014).

In fact, to ensure the highest efficiency in any therapeutic alliance, one of the component that cannot be neglected is the goal and the outcome of therapy. A positive outcome of a therapeutic session is likely to develop when both sides agree on the client’s goal and agree to work towards the achievement of these goals while having a positive level of optimism and motivation (Jordan-Arthur et al,, 2011). However, the outcome of the treatment can face some challenges. Indeed, there are many