As every good clinician knows, diving into deep discussions without first establishing rapport is a sure-fire way to derail the therapeutic process. Show
It can also increase client attrition. In contrast, establishing rapport at the outset helps to calm clients while promoting confidence in the clinician. This type of therapeutic engagement involves “establishing a mutually trusting and respectful helping relationship” (Miller & Rollnick, 2013, p. 47). This article will highlight various aspects of rapport, including what it means, why it’s important, and how to engage in it. Excellent tools, resources, and examples are also included. So, now that we’ve broken the ice, let’s take a more in-depth look at rapport and why it’s such an integral aspect of the therapist–client relationship. Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free. These science-based exercises will explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology including strengths, values, and self-compassion, and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students, or employees. This Article Contains:
What Is Rapport in Psychology and Coaching?Defined as “the ability to connect with others in a way that creates a climate of trust and understanding” (Zakaria & Musta’amal, 2014, p. 2), establishing client rapport is the therapist’s first objective (Leach, 2005). Rapport is a relationship in which the clinician simply clicks with the client (Reiman, 2007), and it is a continuous process that must be nurtured during each session. Ultimately, the goal of the therapist is to establish a therapeutic alliance (Horvath & Greenberg, 1989), which is aided by various aspects of the therapist’s behavior, such as language, facial expression, body language, warmth, etc. Given that the client is exposing vulnerability by sharing their innermost secrets, feelings, and fears, it is only right that the counselor acts in a way that supports a collaborative and trusting client relationship.
Susan C. Young, 2017 3 Examples of Good Rapport in CounselingThe following three vignettes describe challenging counseling situations in which rapport is extremely important.They demonstrate the therapist’s ability to take in the client’s concerns and feelings, and respond in ways that enhance the therapeutic process. AndrewAndrew is a middle-aged man experiencing a high level of anxiety. At the urging of his wife, he finally decided to attend therapy. He has never been to therapy and has always considered “shrinks” to be clinical and unfeeling. He is also worried that they will see into his deepest fears and regrets, which makes him incredibly nervous. Andrew has always believed that seeking therapy makes a person weak, and he is especially worried about others finding out what he tells the therapist. Andrew’s therapist greets him with warmth and friendliness, while offering him a beverage. She makes excellent eye contact and speaks in a soothing voice. She breaks the ice by making small talk about the beautiful weather outside, briefly mentioning her tulip garden and lack of green thumb. These comments help to humanize her, while offering Andrew some time to calm down. The therapist discusses his right to privacy and confidentiality, which eases Andrew’s mind. She also talks to him about how common anxiety symptoms are and that there is no shame in seeking help. The therapist’s approach and discussion of stigma and privacy concerns help Andrew to feel more relaxed and trusting, and ultimately to open up about his feelings. MaggieMaggie is a 32-year-old woman who has been experiencing major relationship problems. She isn’t getting along with her coworkers or her boyfriend. She believes others are to blame for her issues and becomes defensive if these ideas are challenged. She doesn’t want to go to therapy, as it has never helped before. Plus, she really doesn’t trust psychologists. But Maggie decides to attend counseling out of fear of losing her job. She presents with her arms crossed and a clearly distrustful and irritable demeanor. Maggie’s therapist greets her with a kind smile as he escorts her into his colorful, comfy office. He offers her something to drink as he asks her if she had a pleasant weekend. Maggie’s irritable responses are evident to the therapist, who is careful to speak in a nonjudgmental, understanding way. As she explains all the “crap she has to deal with each day,” the therapist uses a lot reflective listening, paraphrasing, and open-ended probes for information (e.g., “Sounds like that argument with your boss was really frustrating for you” and “Can you tell me a little more about what that was like for you?”). Her therapist’s style exudes competence combined with an engaging and supportive approach, which enhances Maggie’s confidence in his skills while minimizing distrust. He also helps her to feel validated by respecting her opinions, and his positive attitude increases Maggie’s own optimism about feeling better. Lastly, he does not use psychological jargon, which could exacerbate her feelings of defensiveness around therapy. With plenty of time and patience, Maggie can benefit from her therapy sessions. JeremyJeremy is a teenager who has become increasingly withdrawn. His grades have gotten worse lately, and he either sulks around the house or hibernates in his room. Jeremy’s parents are worried about him and have taken him to see a counselor, which really irritates him as he has issues with authority. He slumps in his chair, barely responding to questions with more than a shrug. Jeremy’s therapist is familiar with adolescent issues. She greets him warmly and does not speak to him as if he were a child. She carefully explains privacy laws related to therapy with minors, which reassures Jeremy that (aside from concerns regarding risks of potential harm to himself or others) his parents won’t be informed of anything he shares during therapy. She also describes the collaborative nature of therapy and how the two of them will work as a team to determine the therapeutic process and goals. Although Jeremy is reticent, his therapist is patient, never pushing him to speak and allowing plenty of time for pauses. She is nonjudgmental and uses positive affirmations when Jeremy shares difficult feelings. It doesn’t happen overnight, but Jeremy is receptive to the therapist’s approach, feeling respected, truly heard, and confident in the therapist’s expertise. Eventually, Jeremy realizes that seeing a therapist won’t get him in any trouble and that it even feels good to talk to someone who understands him. Is Rapport Important in the Therapeutic Relationship?While research examining the impact of rapport within the counseling field is lacking (Leach, 2005), studies do support a positive association between rapport and therapeutic benefits. Here are five examples:
How to Build Rapport With ClientsClearly, rapport building is an essential ingredient of a quality therapeutic relationship, but how does the clinician get there?In her book, The Art of Connection: 8 Ways to Enrich Rapport & Kinship for Positive Impact, Susan Young (2017) describes the following ways to shine a positive light on others:
Along with Young’s (2017) suggestions, additional methods that help clinicians build rapport include:
14 Tips for Developing Trust and EmpathyCarl Rogers believed that “true empathy is always free of any evaluative or diagnostic quality. The recipient perceives this with some surprise. ‘If I am not being judged, perhaps I am not so evil or abnormal as I have thought’” (Vincent, 2018, p. 167). Rogers understood that by identifying with another person’s situation, the therapist elicits the client’s trust, which is crucial for motivating clients to change. These ideas are consistent with the substantive literature. In fact, empathetic listening skills are deemed to be essential components of evidence-based counselor training (Moyers & Miller, 2013). There are a number of ways to enhance empathy and trust within the counseling context. For example, in a qualitative study in Australia, Phillip, Beel, and Machin (2020) examined methods that counselors use to build rapport during phone conversations with clients. Based on their findings, the researchers reported the following recommendations for building trust and rapport during phone counseling:
In another qualitative study, Lynch (2012) investigated the key factors that produce successful therapeutic outcomes. Twelve interviews by licensed clinical social workers were analyzed for themes. When asked “How do you show empathy toward your clients?” participants reported the following:
In a third qualitative study, open-ended interviews were conducted with female clients in order to explore client perceptions of empathic listening (Myers, 2000). Participants reported the following counselor behaviors as important for experiencing an empathic bond with the therapist:
Fostering Rapport: 10 Questions to Ask PatientsAsking the right questions is important for putting the client at ease while also eliciting key information.Here are 10 examples of rapport-boosting questions:
Helpful Tools From PositivePsychology.comWe have several useful resources throughout our blog for building rapport with clients. To get you started, take a look at the following further reading and free worksheets.
A Take-Home Message
Mark R. McMinn A powerful counselor–client bond is essential to support clients in realizing their treatment objectives. It is seen as a first step and absolutely necessary to create a harmonious and trusting therapeutic relationship. In this space, a client can unpack their vulnerabilities and move toward healing. By establishing trust, being authentic, and listening actively, the therapist can open the door to building quality rapport, which helps to enhance client motivation and compliance, and ultimately therapeutic success. We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free.
What is the best way to obtain specific information about a patient when taking the medical history?Obtaining an Older Patient's Medical History. General suggestions.. Elicit current concerns.. Ask questions.. Discuss medications with your older patients.. Gather information by asking about family history.. Ask about functional status.. Consider a patient's life and social history.. What does it mean when medical assistants display empathy when dealing with patients quizlet?What does it mean when medical assistants display empathy when dealing with patients? They are able to hear what patients say without judging the content.
Which of the following information includes demographic information?Demographic information examples include: age, race, ethnicity, gender, marital status, income, education, and employment.
When entering information on a patient's chart what information must be included?Typically, patient charts include vitals, medications, treatment plans, allergies, immunizations, test results, patient demographics, diagnoses, progress notes and reports. All information in patient charts comes from nurses, lab technicians, physicians and other practitioners involved in the patient's care.
|