Hosts' note: We're re-airing this 2022 episode with Dr. Jon Allen, one of our earliest, because it is such a good companion to last month's episode on therapeutic relationships. For those who want a deeper dive into the dynamic of building trust with patients and its role in the therapeutic process, this is worth a listen, whether it's your first hearing or a return to the discussion. Thank you!
The analysis of the patient is an expected part of therapy, but clinicians may forget that this dynamic creates an equal analysis of the doctor by the patient. Rather than a process of therapy, the two-way street of trust is an ideal outcome of a relationship between patient and clinician that must be nourished. Some argue that this is, by far, the most important fundamental element in a successful therapeutic approach.
On this episode of Mind Dive podcast, Dr. Jon Allen brings attention to the functions of trust in a therapeutic relationship, noting something often neglected in psychotherapy literature. Dr. Allen, author of Trusting in Psychotherapy, previously served for 40 years as a senior staff psychologist at The Menninger Clinic, and currently holds a position as a clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine.
Dive into this episode alongside hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell and Dr. Bob Boland as they explore how clinicians can better nurture therapeutic relationships built on trust to support the overall quality of mental health care for their patients.
“Think about the quality of the relationship as the fundamental, impactful aspect of psychotherapy,” said Dr. Allen, “Trust is not a common factor that’s been studied, but I think of trust as the superordinate common factor.”
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