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A helpful therapy relationship is about more than the method. Here are the qualities worth noticing and how to bring feedback into your sessions.

When people talk about therapy, the conversation often turns to methods and techniques. From the client's side of the room, though, some of the most important ingredients are far more human.

Qualities worth noticing

Signs that a therapeutic relationship is useful include:

• feeling genuinely listened to, rather than hurried;
• understanding where the sessions are heading and why;
• being able to say when something is not helping, without worrying about offending anyone.

These qualities matter regardless of which approach is being used.

Feedback belongs in the room

You are welcome to bring feedback into a session with Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, whose training includes psychotherapy qualifications. You might share what you took away from last time, what felt uncomfortable or confusing, and what you would like to spend more time on. Talking about the working relationship is part of the therapy itself, not a complaint you should save for the very end.

Why speaking up helps

Many people stay quiet when a session does not feel right, assuming the therapist must know what is right or that it would be rude to say otherwise. In reality, honest feedback gives both of you information you can use. It allows the pace, focus or style to be adjusted.

Setting your direction

Your priorities should shape the work. Think about what you would like to make sense of, what seems hard to shift and what would show you that change is happening. Christine can tell you how often you will take stock together and what extra help exists should your circumstances shift between sessions. Where another service would be a better match, she can help you think about referral.

Psychotherapy in Lane Cove

Christine offers psychotherapy at the Lane Cove clinic for people across the lower North Shore. If you are in immediate danger or crisis, contact emergency services first. Otherwise, this article is simply a general reflection on what a helpful therapy relationship can look like.