Every moment of deep relational connection is powerfully demanding and impacts both the client and the therapist. Therapists are part of the dynamic, and we need to acknowledge our involvement.  We confront 6 key relational challenges:

• Coping with relational dynamics involving powerful transferences and potential projections or enactments of unhealthy cycles – There is a need to be reflexive (i.e., self-aware) about one’s own participation and co-transference while being open to processing this through dialogue.
• Navigating ruptures, impasses, misattunements and miscommunications – There is a need to see these as inevitable and necessary while owing one’s responsibility to process and heal them.
• Handling complex, layered power imbalances and dynamics – There is a need to be reflexive and engage in dialogue about the intersectional interconnections/distances that impact values/beliefs, and social positionings.
• Deciding the level of relationality re: how much mutuality and how present and self-disclosing to be – There is a need to keep open and curious with an eye to what is in the client’s interests.
• Managing emotional vulnerability, compassion fatigue, vicarious traumatisation and/or burn-out – There is a need for self-care and both internal and external support.
• Dealing with endings that may trigger feelings of abandonment, loss or rejection – There is a need to stay present to one’s grief, avoiding temptations to shut down, push away, rescue, or encourage the client’s over-dependence.