I encourage you to take time to reflect and review the progress of treatment with your client periodically. During this reflection, be intentional when evaluating the therapeutic process (what happens during a session, the therapeutic rapport, etc.) with your client. In doing so, you and your client will be able to identify the goals and the motives that each of you is bringing to the session. The significance of identifying motives and goals is that over a period of time working with the same client, as a thesis, you may find yourself becoming more interested in your own goals for your client rather than achieving what they may need or want to accomplish in therapy. It’s important to maintain congruence while working towards the goals that your client sets at the beginning of treatment. Sometimes, after working with the same client for a while, comfort may set in with you as the therapist; you become more relaxed and may find yourself steering your client in a direction that is either motivated by your own intentions or by lack of deeper knowledge of what is occurring in session. Therefore, by “checking in” and committing to such evaluations you’ll be able to maintain and foster the authenticity of the therapeutic process. 

The authenticity of the therapeutic process is the ability of the therapist and client to be honest and transparent with each other, partnering together to make clear goals that the client wants to achieve and making plans to achieve them. The need to be honest and authentic with one another fosters trust and vulnerability which is needed to accomplish the work of therapy. The authenticity of the therapeutic process may become eroded when the therapists strive for their own agenda and do not allow the client to add their input into the process and goals of therapy. The kicker is that the client ultimately controls the agenda and the direction in which the session is taking. Keep in mind that there are two experts in the therapy; the therapist and the client. It’s a partnership. You may guide and help construct the direction but all motivation and intention from the therapist should be driven by what the client needs and desires. 

This evaluation and review can and should be an initial conversation. Check-in with them and share your thoughts and concerns. Encourage your client to be open and honest with you in how they are perceiving counseling and how they are perceiving you. Is there something that you’re doing that may prohibit them from being more honest with you? What is preventing them from giving you complete trust? Check your own bias and intentions. Be willing to disclose (as long as it’s in your client’s best interest) such perceptions. Think of this as a good standard of practice.

I’ve come to appreciate this standard of practice. I’ve seen the amazing fruit borne by the authenticity of the therapeutic process, such as deeper and more profound trust that has led to incredible discoveries. I have witnessed miracles and transformations and incredible healing from significant pain. However, I’ve learned these values after catching myself many times with my own agenda in therapy and then consciously ordering my intentions toward my client and their goals. There has been a time or two when a client I have gained incredible trust with has pointed out my own biases and called me out on how I’m reacting or that what I’m saying is prohibiting them from taking the next step. It is here in these conversations that we both share our own perspectives, concerns, and reactions. I encourage you to gain a deeper appreciation for vulnerability and honesty, this will then lead to deeper trust and more profound change. 

You’re not going to be perfect, you are after all, only human. You will have your own agendas, biases, and intentions as to what you might think is best for your client. However, I encourage you to check in with your client to see if you are both on the same page and if they agree with your idea of where you think it’s best to go, that is, the prognosis of treatment. Whether to process their shame from past mistakes or work on their anger issues. Talk about it, be honest with them, and allow them to be honest with you, even when it may sting. Such transparency is so important because it cultivates vulnerability which leads to a deeper trust and ultimately allows for the client to take risks in obtaining true transformation in therapy.