BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

Relationship Building can be best defined as “the act of developing and maintaining relationships with people.”1 

Within the context of a therapeutic relationship, relationship building is “someone with whom they felt a positive connection and in whom they had developed a collaborative relationship,”2 essentially, building rapport between providers and families.

• Achieves optimal results by providing an open space for families and the client to express concerns both safely and confidently.3
• Found to be a concern for child therapy dropout rates, as well as an important factor for treatment outcomes.4,5

• Create an open space so family can share any negative emotional responses.6
• Utilizing active listening to show full attention.6
• Agree to opinions/views that others do not.6
• General agreement on the goals and tasks of the treatment.6
• Shared decision-making.6 

1. Hear their story and understand where they’re coming from. 
2. Spend time and listen to the parent in a nonjudgmental manner. 
3. Actively and reflectively listen to the family. 
4. Empathize with the parents’ experience. 
5. Validate and express concerns about the family.