The Importance of Establishing Therapeutic Rapport
According to Thomas and Sosin (2011), “The skill set that contributes to a working
alliance with the counselee is known as ” (p. 130). Rapport is the bond that is rapport skills
developed between the counselor and the counselee, which includes the sense of good will,
confidence, trust and caring (Thomas & Sosin, 2011). Hawkins and Clinton (2015) would add
that the counselor acts as “God’s representative of hope and spiritual maturity” (pp. 31-32). From
a biblical worldview, rapport is seen in the Trinity (Thomas & Sosin, 2011). Establishing a
rapport with some may be effortless and instantaneous; with others, it may involve a conscious
time-consuming effort. Sometimes, that rapport never builds enough as to allow a bond to
develop between the counselor and the counselee. At which time, ethically speaking, it may be
wise to offer to refer the client to another counselor. It is vital that one creates a safe haven,
establish presence with the counsel by active listening, and demonstrate empathy to create and
maintain an effective therapeutic relationship (Thomas & Sosin, 2011).
This student’s professional experience shows that establishing a rapport with the
counselee is the most important part of the counselor/counselee counseling relationship. It is the
most important element of any relationship. The importance of establishing a therapeutic rapport
applies in the pastoral office as well as in a secular counselor/counselee relationship. One needs
to bear in mind some of the elements that effect the development of bond between the counselor
and counselee. One big one is culture. Thomas and Sosin (2011) address this when they refer to
“SOLER” (pp. 140-142). This student had a client who was attending sessions with a colleague
of his for over a year. This student’s professional colleague has been a professional licensed
Christian counselor for over 15 year and specialized in drug addiction. However, when this
student asked the client how it was going for him in those sessions and why he decided to seek
out a different counselor, he explained, “she’s a very nice lady and I liked her, but she wasn’t
getting me”. When he shared with her his involvement with drugs, street gangs, auto-theft, the
use of weapons, his behavior in the streets and in the home, her face would show a sense of awe.
He could tell she had no clue what that type of life was like, she could not relate. The client was
a Mexican male in his early 30’s, born and raised in Tucson, AZ, a high school graduate, a babe
in Christ, was incarcerated for over 5 years, his relationship with his father was a poor one, and
“machismo” was very much a part of his cultural upbringing. This student’s professional
colleague was a white female, grew up in a middle-class Christian home, a Spirit-filled born-
again Christian, had experience with the Mexican population; however, was not able to “get”
him. The rapport needed to produce trust, confidence in the counselors counseling skills, etc.
could not be established. As a result, the counselee simply stopped attending the sessions and
sought help elsewhere by seeking God’s direction as he actively searched. He explained how the
Holy Spirit directed him to this servant of God. This is information collected during the intake. A
bond between this counselor and the client immediately began to take place when this counselor,
a Puerto Rican 20-years older that the client, raised in Brooklyn, NY, began to share a little of his
story and journey regarding his endeavor in becoming Christ-like. At the end of the first session,
the client was in tears and closed the session in prayer asking for forgiveness, deliverance,
wisdom, help in becoming the man God wants him to be. That evening, the client had an
encounter with Yeshua. Change always follows encounter, regarding Yeshua. This student calls it
the . In this case, establishing the therapeutic rapport and following the voice Pauline Experience
of the Holy Spirit led to one man’s new beginning through his encounter with Yeshua. This
demonstrates the importance of establishing a therapeutic rapport, whether it be in the pastoral
office or as a Licensed Professional Counselor (“faith-base” or not). When a Christian counselor
is counseling a non-Christian (i.e., atheist, agnostic, cultist, or other religion), the Christian must
respect the client’s faith, of lack thereof. However, it does not mean the Christian counselor must
refrain from employing Christian principles and sound biblically-based/evidence-based
therapeutic techniques. It is through the practice of Christian principles and sound biblically-
based/evidence-based therapeutic techniques, and prayer that that client may come to know
Christ as their Savior.
The Importance of Establishing the Creation of a “Safe Haven”
Establishing the creation of a “safe haven” was briefly addressed above. It goes hand-in-
hand with establishing a rapport. Thomas and Sosin (2011) list creating a “safe haven” as the
first element leading towards building a therapeutic rapport, calling it “Rapport Skill 1” (p. 133).
As seen in the story above, the client evidently saw the relationship with this counselor as a “safe
haven”, feeling save and secure, leading to “free disclosure” (Thomas & Sosin, 2011, p. 134). If
one does not feel safe and secure in sharing (trust), one is not going to open themselves to that
person, regardless of their title. Especially in the case of the pastoral office, because of the
mistakes of many pastors, many counselees are not sure to trust even pastors with their secrets.
Pastors, and others, have been known to ask for specific prayer for a person, using their name
without that person’s consent. It may have been done without malicious intent; however,
knowledge of this gets back to the ear of the client through another church leader when the
church leader tells the client that he/she is praying for their specific issue. At that moment,
whatever level of rapport was established is now destroyed. The “safe haven” is no more.
Therefore, not only establishing the creation of a “safe haven” is important, but maintaining it is
equally as important. It should go without saying, in a case like this, the pastor would have
violated several items in the AACC Code of Ethics.
References
Thomas, J.C., & Sosin, L. (2011). Therapeutic expedition: Equipping the Christian counselor for
journey.Nashville, TN: B& H Academy.
Hawkins, R., & Clinton, T. (2015). The new Christian counselor: A fresh biblical &
transformational approach. Eugene, OR: Harvest House.
