Being Real in Therapy

What is it about?

Being real means acting as you are on the outside exactly the same as you feel on the inside. It is similar to authenticity, but it focuses on moments when it is challenging, such as when it could come with personal cost or it could upset other people. This study examined the impacts of realness in psychotherapists, and found that therapists who are more experienced are more likely to be real, that it was associated with indicators of positive therapeutic process, and that it did not depend on whether the therapy was in person or virtual.

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Why is it important?

Therapists are often put in a position where they are not sure whether being transparent about how they feel or think would be helpful or hurtful to their clients. This study shows that some people are more likely to be real with their clients than others, and that in general this supports better therapeutic processes.