A case study exploring experience of relational depth between therapist and client in a single session recorded during a skills practice

Abstract

AimThis research explored the experience of relational depth between therapist and client during a single session recorded during a skills practice activity.Method and AnalysisAn archived skills practice video was rated by client and therapist for perceived depth of connection. This rating was completed at each minute using a 0 to 10 scale (0=not at all connected, 10=deeply connected). Following this, the discussion about the ratings was audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data was analysed using grounded theory.FindingsTwo core-categories were generated: These were the client and therapist’s perception of: (1) moments of connectedness; and (2) moments of disconnectedness. Within the moments of connectedness three subcategories were found: (i) experience of therapist’s congruence; (ii) experience of being listened to; and (iii) experience of having the time to process. Within moments of disconnectedness two sub-categories were found: (i) experience of not being ‘in tune’ with the therapist; and (ii) experience of the therapist working too hard.DiscussionThe findings are consistent with the literature suggesting that there is a high level of consensus in therapist-client perception of relational connectedness, and the deepening of this, albeit at a slower rate, as the session progresses (Cooper, 2012). The findings also point to links between the two core categories and their lower order counter-parts, and as such show clients’ perceptions of therapist skills under which the relational depth was experienced and near reverse of therapist skills in which it was not. Although much of the literature has concentrated upon relational depth in person-centred therapy, this study demonstrates that moments of relational depth can be experienced by participants from other therapeutic orientations.