Relational depth from the client’s perspective

Touchstones of Connection: A Concept Mapping Study of Counselor Factors That Contribute to Relational Depth

“…First, we made assumptions about the construct of relational depth. According to researchers (Cooper, 2013a; Knox, ; McMillan & McLeod, ), relational depth is essentially ineffable, very difficult to define. However, we adopted Mearns and Cooper's () definition of the construct and proceeded to explore it despite its apparent elusiveness.…”

“…The epistemological limitations with regard to such definitional issues certainly prove less than desirable; however, we endeavored to define and describe the construct as clearly as possible for nominators and participants. Furthermore, relational depth has been defined as an interactional, dyadic encounter (Knox, ), and we only studied one half of the dyad.…”

“…These factors include counselor presence (Mearns, , ; Mearns & Cooper, ); transparency and immediacy (Cooper, 2013b; Mearns & Cooper, ; Mearns & Schmid, ); self‐awareness (Cooper, 2013b; Mearns & Cooper, ); care for the client (Cooper, 2013b); fearlessness (Mearns, , ); ability to create a safe environment, ability to forgo preconceived notions of clients or the desire to fix clients, ability to let go of specific techniques, and ability to listen deeply (Mearns & Cooper, ); acceptance of the client (Cooper, 2013b; Mearns & Schmid, ); willingness to be affected by the client and invite this deeper encounter (Mearns & Cooper, ; Mearns & Schmid, ); and commitment to the client, openness to the experience, existential‐level communication, emphasis on the relationship, willingness to have an impact the client, and awareness of the environment and the power differential (Mearns & Schmid, ). Qualitative studies of therapists' (Cooper, ; Macleod, ) and clients' (Knox, , ; Knox & Cooper, , ; McMillan & McLeod, ) experiences of relational depth also shed some light on this question. However, there remains a dearth of empirical research exploring the specific counselor factors that contribute to the ability to invite and facilitate these moments of relational depth.…”

“…it is believed that clients initiate these deeper moments of engagement when they are ready and willing to open to such a vulnerable experience (Knox & cooper, 2011;mcmillan & mcLeod, 2006). This initiation is thought to be predicated on some perceived invitation from their counselor (Knox, 2008(Knox, , 2013Knox & cooper, 2010Knox & cooper, , 2011. However, we do not yet know how counselors invite and facilitate these deepened experiences of connection.…”

Existential psychotherapies.

“…In other words, the more that clients experienced relational depth at a particular helpful moment in therapy, the more they improved (Cooper, 2013). A majority of clients in Knox's (2013) qualitative interview studies also indicated that moments of relational depth had a significant positive impact, both immediately and in the longer term.…”