Nursing and the Therapeutic Relationship

Paper Summary:

This paper studies the characteristics of relationships that are formed between clients and mental health professionals. It defines and describes the mental health professional's role and responsibilities in establishing a successful relationship with the client. The paper also looks at the characteristics that the mental health nurse must possess in order to be successful in her position.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Role and Relationship
Therapeutic Skills
Trust and Commitment
Suspension of Moral Judgment
Empathy
Freedom to Speak Openly
Legal Limitations on Therapeutic Counseling
Problematic Relationships
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Additionally, the mental health professional must work to maintain a professional relationship with the client that is built on objective, empathic recognition of the client's past and current histories, which will help facilitate insight into how and why the client makes specific decisions and how the client frames his or her relationships with others. Limitations imposed by professional standards and the obligations that the therapist has towards the client also serve to define their roles. When this is accomplished, the mental health professional can empower the client with autonomous self-directed decision-making skills, which in turn give the client the ability to make progress when he or she is not currently engaged in the therapy process."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Collins, D.; Jordan, C.; & Coleman, H. (1999) An Introduction to Family Social Work. New York: Wadsworth Publishing.
• Corey, M. S. & Corey, G. (2005). Group: Process and Practice (7th Edition.). New York: Wadsworth Publishing.
• Crosston-Tower, C. (2004). Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect (6th Edition). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
• Dutton, D. (2003). The Abusive Personality: Violence and Control in Relationships. New York: Guilford Press.
• Gerstein, J. (1999) Sticking Together: Experiential activities for family counseling. New York: Taylor & Francis.

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