Therapeutic Communications

The two most important goals of the first therapy session are to initiate a therapeutic alliance and to assess safety. You will have an opportunity to learn more about safety assessment in a later unit. This discussion provides you an opportunity to demonstrate your learning and reflect on the importance of developing a therapeutic alliance with a patient by addressing the following:

1. Discuss why the therapeutic alliance is important, and

2. identify psychotherapeutic strategies that can help in developing this alliance.