Levels of Therapeutic Relationship When Working With Male Clients

Abstract

At a time when men are seeking therapeutic support at increased levels, identifying and responding to the type of engagement sought by male clients increases the possibility for stronger engagement and retention of men in therapy. This highlights the importance of the perceived challenges of engaging and working with male clients, particularly in attempting to overcome the temptation to label such clients as “resistant”. In 1988, Steve de Shazer and the Brief Family Therapy Centre proposed that clients present seeking different levels of therapeutic engagement (visitor, complainant, and customer relationships). A more recent solution-focused model originating in Bruges has suggested similar levels of engagement between client and practitioner (uncommitted, searching, consultant, and expert relationships; Isebaert, 2016). This paper compares and discusses the two models of therapeutic engagement levels and considers the clinical implications of these for working therapeutically with male clients.

Editorial: An Important Conversation

“…Announcing a $6.5 million age verification pilot to boost online safety, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said that inappropriate content such as pornography, misogynistic material, and graphic violence on digital platforms reinforced harmful gender norms, particularly to young Australians (Rowland, 2024). In his timely article in this issue of PACJA, "Levels of Therapeutic Relationship When Working With Male Clients", Michael W. Ellwood (2024) notes that norms regarding masculinity can result in barriers "for men seeking and engaging in therapeutic support" (para. 2).…”