Chapter 11
A comfortable connection characterized by mutual understanding and trust that supports communication.
Rapport
A patient’s usually unconscious redirection of feelings and expectations from earlier relationships onto the care provider.
Transference
A care provider’s emotional reactions to a patient that are influenced by the provider’s own experiences, feelings, or unresolved conflicts.
Countertransference
A traditional term for not following an agreed treatment plan. Nonadherence is often preferred because it allows consideration of barriers such as cost, side effects, or misunderstanding.
Noncompliance
Establishing and consistently communicating clear boundaries for behavior to promote safety, respect, and appropriate interactions.
Limit-setting
Agreement between a person’s feelings, words, and actions, so verbal and nonverbal messages are consistent.
Congruence
The belief that improvement, meaningful change, or a desired outcome remains possible.
Hope
A shared partnership in which the patient and care provider contribute to agreed goals while maintaining their respective roles.
Mutuality
Understanding another person’s feelings and perspective and communicating that understanding while maintaining a sense of separation from their experience.
Empathy
Active participation in treatment, relationships, and therapeutic activities that support recovery and well-being.
Involvement
Confidence that another person will be reliable, honest, respectful, and protective of one’s interests.
Trust
The right and ability to make one’s own informed choices, including decisions about treatment and care.
Autonomy
Being authentic, sincere, and honest in interactions while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
Genuineness
A purposeful professional relationship centered on the patient’s needs and goals, using trust, empathy, communication, and clear boundaries to support well-being.
Therapeutic relationship
In mental health care, repeated return to inpatient treatment or hospitalization after discharge, often following a recurrence of symptoms.
Recidivism
Conscious or unconscious reluctance to participate in treatment, discuss difficult subjects, or make changes.
Resistance
External benefits associated with illness or symptoms, such as increased attention, financial support, or relief from responsibilities; these benefits do not necessarily mean symptoms are intentional.
Secondary gain
Establishing and communicating clear, consistent boundaries for behavior to promote safety and support appropriate interactions.
Limit-setting
The interacting feelings, behaviors, and influences that shape a relationship and how it changes over time.
Dynamics
The long-term persistence or recurring nature of an illness or condition.
Chronicity
Recognizing a person’s worth and acknowledging their feelings and experiences without judgment, while still addressing unsafe or inappropriate behaviors.
Acceptance
A deliberately structured, safe, and supportive setting in which relationships, routines, activities, and expectations are used to promote recovery and healthy coping.