CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
Week 10 –23rd November 2009
Understanding relationships and how they function is a crucial part of counselling especially as most counselling sessions involve a relationship or relationship problems.
In the lesson we brainstormed the word “Relationship” and were amazed to discover that this was more complex than expected. As a group we concluded that a relationship was
• Between two or more people
• Relationships could be good or bad
• Long standing or brief
• Trust was very important as if this was lost then the relationship would break down.
• Can be positive or negative (controlling, toxic, manipulative, or strong, true, etc )
As human beings we form relationships all the time with people and as a group brainstormed different types such as family, teacher, colleague, neighbour, parent, child, partner, counsellor, client etc...
To have a relationship there needs to be some sort of link or interaction between two people. Both participants needs have to be met in the relationship or it can breakdown or feel that one person is putting more into the relationship than the other. This could cause resentment as there needs to be a level a commitment and loyalty. Ethics are silently formed between people and if strained can form a healthy functioning relationship.
However some relationships you have no choice in such as a family member or work colleague and these can be strained. We have all heard of the saying “You cannot choice your family but you can your friends !” and this is very true as we have to sometimes socialise with family members that we do not necessarily like and would not entertain if they were not family .
There are certain degrees or levels to a relationship depending upon the intensity and quality of the relationship plus any boundaries set allows for full acceptance of the relationship. What a person gets out of the relationship depends upon this, such as the relationship between...