ABSTRACT
Whilst a range of different psychological therapies have been developed to help people struggling with psychosis, common to all these approaches is that the relationship between therapist and client is an important part of the therapeutic work. This chapter focuses on the nature and importance of the relationship between therapist and client with regards to therapy for psychosis. The first part of the chapter provides a personal account of psychological therapy for psychosis by Annie, where the relationship that was formed with the therapist was key to the progress experienced. Annie describes the benefits of trust and feeling understood. In the second part of the chapter clinical psychologists Amanda and Peter provide a broader introduction to the theory and research concerning the relationship between client and therapist. The way in which this relationship has been understood and conceptualised is discussed, including what possibly constitutes a ‘good’ relationship, and how this relationship impacts on the course of the therapy. The chapter ends by considering how a good relationship might be promoted, considering both the perspective of the therapist and the client.
