{"id":35128,"date":"2019-08-16T05:37:20","date_gmt":"2019-08-16T04:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/counsellingtu.onpressidium.com\/?page_id=35128"},"modified":"2021-11-13T12:43:14","modified_gmt":"2021-11-13T12:43:14","slug":"relational-depth-in-counselling","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/counsellingtutor.com\/basic-counselling-skills\/relational-depth-in-counselling\/","title":{"rendered":"Relational Depth in Counselling"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t<h1>Relational Depth in Counselling<\/h1>\n\t<p>Relational depth in counselling is a term used to explain the deep connection between counsellor and client that can be present within a <a href=\"https:\/\/counsellingtutor.com\/basic-counselling-skills\/therapeutic-relationship-in-counselling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">therapeutic relationship<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Working at relational depth can really help clients to move forward within the process of change and growth.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/counsellingtutor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/relational-depth-in-counselling.jpg\" alt=\"Two persons with their hands touching - The image means to communicate relational depth in counselling, which is used to explain the deep connection between counsellor and client that can be present within a therapeutic relationship.\" itemprop=\"image\" height=\"266\" width=\"400\" title=\"relational depth in counselling\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\"  \/>\n\t<div id=\"cbox-vODZZySnaq10cn4g\"><\/div>\n\t<p><strong>Within this article you will:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Define working at relational depth<\/li>\n<li>Explore the value of working with relational depth in psychotherapy<\/li>\n<li>Discuss how relational depth can be achieved<\/li>\n<li>Explore personal development with regard to relational depth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t<h2>What is relational depth?<\/h2>\n\t<p>Relational depth was first developed through the work of Mearns and Cooper.<\/p>\n<p>Mearns first wrote about the intense moments of contact between clients and therapists in 1996 and used the term &#8216;relational depth&#8217; to describe these.<\/p>\n<p>Here is a useful <a href=\"https:\/\/mick-cooper.squarespace.com\/new-blog\/2017\/10\/10\/relational-depth-some-frequently-asked-questions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">definition of relational depth<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t<h2>Working at relational depth in psychotherapy<\/h2>\n\t<p>Relational depth can be found in <a href=\"https:\/\/counsellingtutor.com\/counselling-approaches\/person-centred-approach-to-counselling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Carl Rogers&#8217; theory<\/a> and key ideas where he discusses the relationship between counsellor and client being of key importance within the therapeutic alliance.<\/p>\n\t<p>Mearns and Cooper discuss relational depth in counselling as a profound connectedness that can enable clients to enter into edge of awareness discoveries, with the therapist being involved in clients&#8217; innermost thoughts and feelings.<\/p>\n\t<p>Relational depth can invite clients to access their <a href=\"https:\/\/counsellingtutor.com\/057-explicit-versus-implicit-existentialism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">existential selves<\/a>, without the &#8216;masks\/armour&#8217; that they may present to the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\t<h3>How working with relational depth can help us?<\/h3>\n\t<p>Relational depth involves such a deep connection, where the client can feel able to access every part of themselves in a safe, nurturing environment.<\/p>\n<p>This aligns with Rogers&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/counsellingtutor.com\/counselling-approaches\/person-centred-approach-to-counselling\/the-six-necessary-and-sufficient-conditions-for-therapeutic-personality-change\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">core conditions<\/a>.\u00a0 Clients can feel wholly and completely accepted by &#8216;another&#8217;, paving the way for them to be able to accept themselves.<\/p>\n\t<hr \/>\n<blockquote><p><em>Relational depth cannot be &#8216;planned out&#8217; and is not a &#8216;strategy&#8217;, rather, something that occurs between individuals as an organic experience.\u00a0 It occurs moment to moment, within the here and now.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<hr \/>\n\t<h3>What has research into relational depth shown?<\/h3>\n\t<p>Research undertaken, notably by Cooper, Knox, McMillan, Mcleod and Wiggins indicates that relational depth has enabled clients to feel a more authentic connection to themselves and to others around them.<\/p>\n<p>Clients often describe &#8216;pivotal moments&#8217; within the therapeutic relationship occurring as a result of relational depth, which empowers and enables therapeutic growth and change.<\/p>\n\t<h3>Levels of relationsl depth<\/h3>\n\t<p>Relational depth cannot be &#8216;planned out&#8217; and is not a &#8216;strategy&#8217;, rather, something that occurs between individuals as an organic experience.\u00a0 It occurs moment to moment, within the here and now.<\/p>\n<p>Relational depth is likely to be experienced in moments\/enduring moments, rather than full sessions spent working in this way.<\/p>\n\t<h4>How can relational depth be achieved?<\/h4>\n\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/counsellingtutor.com\/personal-development-as-a-counsellor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Personal development for counsellors<\/a> is essential in order for relational depth to occur.<\/p>\n<p>Counsellors must be comfortable and accepting of all parts of themselves, in order to be accepting of all parts of another.<\/p>\n<p>The importance of personal development (indeed in all areas of counselling) cannot be underestimated here.<\/p>\n\t<h4>Key aspects of relational depth in counselling and psychotherapy<\/h4>\n\t<p><strong>Evidence has shown that relational depth has been achieved and experienced by clients when therapists are:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Warm<\/li>\n<li>Personal<\/li>\n<li>Genuine<\/li>\n<li>Human<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t<p><strong>Relational depth may not be reached when therapists are:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Asserting control over clients.<\/li>\n<li>Meeting their own needs within the process.<\/li>\n<li>Have pre-existing hopes for the client.<\/li>\n<li>Attempts to &#8216;fix&#8217; the client.<\/li>\n<li>Focuses on theory and <a href=\"https:\/\/counsellingtutor.com\/basic-counselling-skills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">counselling skills<\/a>, rather than present moment experiencing.<\/li>\n<li>Spends time attempting to formulate responses\/suggestions to problems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t<h3>Free Handout Download<\/h3>\t\t\n\t\t\t<p>Relational Depth in Counselling<\/p>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"#cbc2905d6d\" target=\"_self\" role=\"button\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tClick Here to Download Free Handout\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<h4>References<\/h4>\n<p>Sanders et al (2012) <em>The Tribes of the Person-Centred Nation. <\/em>Ross-on-Wye, PCCS Books.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Relational Depth in Counselling Relational depth in counselling is a term used to explain the deep connection between counsellor and client that can be present within a therapeutic relationship. Working at relational depth can really help clients to move forward within the process of change and growth. Within this article you will: Define working at [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13127,"featured_media":0,"parent":1185,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Relational Depth in Counselling &#8226; Counselling Tutor<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Relational depth in counselling explains a deep connection between counsellor and client. 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