The Benefits of Mutual Trust in the Therapeutic Process
Trust serves as an anchor for any successful connection in a relationship. Whether it’s personal, romantic, family, or professional relationships, trust is important when forming a strong emotional bond among individuals. There are some people who even place trust above love because they argue that without trust love cannot thrive.
In the behavioral health industry, trust is fundamental in building a therapeutic alliance between care providers and clients. Therapeutic alliance refers to the collaborative bond between practitioners and their clients with a shared goal of improving the patient’s mental health as well as increasing their general well-being. Successful treatment outcomes require a strong therapeutic alliance.
You can be the most experienced, most skilled, and most successful care provider in the behavioral health field; however, if there is a lack of trust from the client, you will not be able to form a therapeutic alliance, which may result in clinical inefficacy.
In fact, many experts believe that building trust in mental health care providers and psychiatrists should be a priority, as it can increase the use of mental health services and improve patient satisfaction.
One possible reason why trust is placed in high regard is that patients are more inclined to openly share information when they trust their healthcare provider. This improved interaction can also lead to increased patient autonomy and collaborative decision-making between care providers and clients.
How Care Providers Can Build Trust with Clients
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “trust” as the “reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.” While it may seem like a straightforward concept, the reality is that building trust is a process that takes time and effort. While providing care for a diverse range of mental health patients with unique needs and personalities, learning how to navigate and establish trust can be challenging.
However, while trust is not something that can be studied in school or picked up from a book chapter, the good news is that care providers can undergo specialized training and continuing education to better understand and learn techniques for building trust with clients.
The European Psychiatric Association recommends that psychiatrists train to emphasize their empathy, honesty, professionalism, flexibility, confidentiality, availability and accessibility in order to increase trust with patients.
Another helpful technique for care providers, especially when dealing with young mental health clients, is to build rapport by also sharing information about themselves without oversharing or dominating the conversation. Healthy disclosure can create opportunities to find points of connection, such as a shared interest in a sports team or a favorite musician. If relevant, show an understanding of the youth’s background, whether from similar personal experiences or interactions with other youth.
Additionally, other specific techniques can be implemented to develop a trusting relationship, such as active listening, maintaining boundaries, respecting client autonomy, and being transparent about treatment plans and goals.
Are Your Care Providers Trained in Trust-Building Techniques?
The Harvard Business Review maintained that having a relationship with patients based on trust is no longer simply a “nice-to-have” – instead, it’s a must-have. This not only benefits the individual patient but also contributes to increased satisfaction and retention rates for care providers.
With trust being such an important aspect of the therapeutic relationship, companies in the behavioral health sector must ensure that their care providers are well-versed in these techniques and continuously receive training to improve their skills.
But how do you determine whether care providers are actually trained in these techniques and are developing trust with their clients? Maintaining the confidentiality of treatment sessions is essential when working with mental health clients, so simply asking for feedback or waiting for the outcomes of a patient satisfaction survey may not be enough.
One tool that behavioral health companies may find useful in this regard is the Care Predictor Index (CPI). This assessment evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of current or potential care providers, including their ability to form therapeutic alliances with their clients.
The CPI allows organizations to hire and keep care providers with the right qualities and skills to connect well with clients, improving the chances of a strong and effective therapeutic relationship.
Beyond aiding hiring decisions, Care Predictor’s ability to pinpoint strengths and areas for improvement allows organizations to offer targeted training and support. This enables staff to excel and fosters stronger client relationships.
