ABSTRACT
It is a commonplace today to emphasize the importance of the patient–therapist relationship whether in the realm of medicine or that of the social worker. It is a field in which problems abound, especially in psychotherapy, which, however, is happily and unusually well-advantaged for their observation and study. Some of them are as follows:
The problem of being able to interact with and trust a stranger over the intimate difficulties and sufferings of the psyche in the long term—not that, for some people, enlightening introductions to their psychology may not be effected in a once-only meeting with a stranger. To achieve greater depth, however, the normal problems of unfamiliarity with new persons demand recognition and attention. Neurosis or psychosis apart, these resolve themselves in time into a positive and/or negative attitude as knowledge of and about the new person is acquired.
The problem of distortions of perception, if not indeed of illusion and delusion, which can extend far beyond the normal problems of unfamiliarity and do interfere with the relationship potential that arises between patient and therapist as they seek to experience each other as real persons.
Problems of personal idiosyncrasy, background, culture etc. arising within the real object-relations of the here and now, not only while but also after the distortions are being or have been analysed and worked through.
