Therapists usecognitive-behavioralinterventions that are specifically directed toward the understanding of unhealthy thinking habits and behaviors linked to particular relationships.

Thistherapyis also viewed as a way to connect and understand onesrelationship with one’s therapist.

In doing so, an individual will also feel comfortable discussing sensitive information related to past and current relationships.

Woman explains something to her therapist

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Find out which option is the best for you.

Therapists will help patients navigate their thinking patterns that may be associated with specific interactions with people.

The patient may be asked to think of instances that involve a disagreement with a loved one.

Together, the therapist and patient explore how this may connect to their childhood.

Some interventions pertain to the patients relationship with the therapist.

In these types of interventions, therapists might explore possible complacent behavior within therapy.

In many ways, a person’s relationship with their therapist can mirror their outside relationships.

So, working on the therapeutic relationship can also help the patient modify the other relationships in their life.

This kind of therapy can help decipher healthy relationships from those that prohibit self-growth.

Relational therapy, additionally, promotes the development of relationship skills such as patience,self-confidence, andtrust.

Jean Baker believed that building connections with others initiated individual growth greater than an emphasis on autonomy.

There is currently not muchscientific literatureassociated with relational therapy.

This therapy is centered on relational theories that have been explored for several decades.

Relational therapy appeared to be effective by displaying high reliability in each section that was evaluated.

More research must be done to understand which relational interventions and techniques work best for different people.

It is important to be clear in what you hope to receive from relational therapy.

doi.org/10.1186/s12888-016-1021-4

Falkenstrom F, Holmqvist R.Therapist in-session feelings predict change in depressive symptoms in interpersonal and brief relational psychotherapy.

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Epub 2021 Nov 11. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12144-023-04843-3

Magnavita, J. J.

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PMID: 35855651; PMCID: PMC9386435.