Understanding Relational Therapy

Therapists may use all types of terms to describe the type of therapy they practice. When I describe how I work, I often start by saying I work from a “relational” and “psychodynamic” lens, and while you don’t have to know what they mean to benefit from them, it can be useful to have a general sense of how your therapist might want to work with you. 

Building on Relationships

Relational therapy, also known as relational-cultural therapy, emphasizes the importance of our connections with others. It's based on the idea that a lot our traumas and pain occur in relation to other people, and that strong, healthy relationships are essential places for our healing and emotional well-being. Therapists using this approach explore how your past and present relationships shape your current thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in relationships, especially if you find that you are attracting the same type of partner, or encountering the same conflicts in relationships. Relational therapy also considers how your cultural background and social environment influence your interactions with others.

Similar Goals, Different Focus

While both relational therapy and behavioral therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), aim to improve your overall well-being, they may take different approaches at time.

Behavioral therapies tend to be more focused on you as an individual, versus in relation to others, and might involve identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and developing new coping mechanisms to address them. Relational therapy, on the other hand, might delve deeper into the dynamics between you and others. It might explore how your communication styles, attachment patterns, and past experiences all play a role in your past and current relationships.

The role of the therapist

One unique aspect of relational therapy is how the therapist works with the client-therapist relationship itself. In relational therapy, the therapeutic relationship becomes a model for healthy connection. By working together to understand your needs and build trust, the goal is that a client can experience what a secure and supportive relationship can feel like within therapy, which can then translate into your interactions outside of therapy.

Is Relational Therapy Right for You?

If you're struggling with relationship issues, family conflict, or feelings of loneliness, depression, or anxiety, relational therapy can be a powerful form of therapy for you, as these issues can often be rooted in relational challenges. Read more about how I work here.