Moral Features of the Therapeutic Relationship with Adults: Dignity, Trust, Autonomy, Vulnerability, and Resilience

Abstract

Using dignity as a foundational value of morality, this article defines trust, autonomy, vulnerability, and resilience in relational terms. A fictional narrative illustrates these attributes as well as solidarity and care, two core tenets of relational ethics. Medicine and rehabilitation are described as moral enterprises with respect for persons at the core of our professional obligations to patients—namely, duties of care, trustworthiness, and loyalty. Clinically, promoting autonomy, decreasing vulnerability, and fostering resilience are encouraged, with particular emphasis on avoiding words or actions (or inactions) that could cause patients to feel discouraged or depersonalized. In conclusion, the purpose of our work with persons with aphasia and other communication disorders is to help them live their lives as fully as possible, despite their life-changing losses. Viewing our therapeutic relationships with them in relational moral terms can enhance our work.

Balancing Flexibility and Administrative Burden: Experiences of Family Managers Using Directly Funded Home Care in Manitoba, Canada

“…Continuity of worker is particularly emphasized across an array of dimensions relevant to care quality including familiarity, rapport, and trust. As argued by care ethics, the characteristics of care relationships are directly associated with care quality (Cloutier, Martin-Matthews, Byrne, & Wolse, 2015;Eustis & Fischer, 1991;Held, 2006;Horner, 2020;Tronto, 1993). There are therapeutic possibilities both in giving and receiving care (Bondi, 2008), and workers also appreciate the ability to choose whom they work for (Woolham et al, 2019).…”