Therapy dialogues balance between supportive and challenging aspects. Challenge is often seen as the more effective therapeutic tool. However, using supportive approaches like empathy may help the patient challenge himself. In relational therapy, a distinctive feature is that the therapist challenges himself or herself; to self-disclose feelings and fantasies, to comment on the ongoing interaction, to be genuine in the dialogue with the patient. This can be seen as modelling openness and affective spontaneity, but also as an expression of the genuineness which is a basis for relational therapy.