ABSTRACT
The therapist attempts to maintain a therapeutic attitude in which to listen and talk to the client in as non-judgemental a way as possible. This chapter looks at how the therapist’s careful attention to concrete boundaries helps to construct and maintain the container within which both therapist and patient can feel safe to work. These boundaries are shaped by contractual agreements such as time, money, and space. The chapter considers the aspects of these contractual agreements. The patient has negotiated his way through cultural and personal ambivalence, obtained a referral to a qualified counsellor or psychotherapist, and the first assessment appointment has been made. The assessment is likely to include: the presenting problem; an outline of the patient’s personal and family history; whether or not the patient has a supportive enough network of family, colleagues, or friends; and whether the patient would benefit from the type of therapy being offered.
