Therapeutic encounters

Abstract

When individuals experience distress, they try to make sense of this and, in the first instance, may seek help from personal, folk, or social sectors. If these interventions do not work, they will contact the professional sector. It is likely that the healthcare system will direct their help-seeking behaviour. In addition, the explanatory models they have will direct them into help-seeking accordingly. Once therapeutic interaction has started, the explanatory models of the individuals, their families, carers, and those of the clinician will affect therapeutic engagement. Race, gender, social status, education, and economic status will all affect explanatory models and where individuals seek help. If different from that of the patient, the culture of the clinician will affect therapeutic alliance. Working with interpreters requires training if the primary language of the patient differs from that of the healthcare professional.