Collaboration in Experiential Therapy

Abstract

We offer a view of the nature and role of client-therapist collaboration in experiential psychotherapy, focusing on Gestalt and emotion-focused therapy (EFT). We distinguish between the necessary condition of mutual trust (the emotional bond between client and therapist) and effective collaboration (regarding the goals and tasks of therapy). Using a case study of experiential therapy for social anxiety, we illustrate how the development of collaboration can be both complex and pivotal for therapeutic success, and how it can involve client and therapist encountering one another through taking risks by openly and nonjudgementally disclosing difficult experiences in order to enrich and advance the work.

Art therapy for elderly women diagnosed with Alzheimers: A positive person-centred approach increases ease in the care process

“…A significantly higher level of trust can be observed in the relationship to respond when the other person takes the initiative to signal his/her desire to be trusted Swinth [91]. Thus, with the therapeutic bond elaboration coming first in trust/safety conditions, the patient is able to take her/his eyes off the therapist and think about her/his well-being Berdondini et al [27]. A productive collaboration is not necessarily a natural or spontaneous process.…”

“…A productive collaboration is not necessarily a natural or spontaneous process. It requires a series of efforts for both patient and therapist, meaning several sessions Berdondini et al [27]. In average, five sessions are required here to build a sufficient and identifiable trust-based relationship.…”

“…As such, people diagnosed with neurodegenerative diseases improve their self-esteem and well-being by using creative activities by means of acts of making, which produce pleasure and reduce anxiety Byers et al [3,5,[21][22][23][24][25]. This is likely because neurodegenerative diseases have an impact on the human memory and decrease cognitive faculties, but emotions and affect are less impacted by degeneration Baran et al [26][27][28][29][30][31]. Fundamental properties of artistic technique can then be used to help people participate in the therapeutic process, and people affected by such diseases remain sensitive to subjective art-based experiences Camic et al [5,[32][33][34][35][36].…”

“…In addition, trust in physicians has been shown to be improved by using a patient-centred approach Berrios-Rivera et al [61], and the alliance is similarly found to strongly correlate with patient centeredness Huff et al [59]. This is because the therapeutic bond comes first through building mutual trust Berdondini et al [27,62]. In the same way, an authentic partnership approach including trust is more and more required in dementia care Dupuis et al [63].…”

Alliance ruptures in cognitive‐behavioral therapy: A cognitive conceptualization

“…The below clinical guidelines will rely on the principles of the Beckian cognitive model and modern conception of its change processes (Kazantzis et al, 2018; Mennin et al, 2013) as an integrative therapy that can incorporate techniques from a broad spectrum of evidence‐based therapies (Petrik et al, 2013). Central is the concept of collaboration, which in the context of CBT is more than an agreement on the goals and tasks intended to achieve those goals; it reflects active shared work (Tee & Kazantzis, 2011) and has some departures from the concept of collaboration in psychoanalytic modalities that center on unconscious processes within the patient and relationship (e.g., Berdondini et al, 2012; Wiseman et al, 2012).…”