How appreciating difference makes you a better therapist

How appreciating difference makes you a better therapist

By, Ashley Longsworth 

Clients come in in all shapes and forms. This diverse population of race, socioeconomic status, life spans, gender and sexual identities allow for therapists to step out of assumptions and be curious.

It is inevitable that therapists and clients will differ in some way. By choosing to ignore differences, therapists may lose the opportunity to join with their clients.

Appreciating differences is beneficial for therapists. Here are some ways in which appreciating differences can make you a better therapist.

·         It allows you to be curious – Stories make sense in context! Acknowledging differences in the therapy room allows for therapists to mindful of the therapeutic relationship and how the differences between them and the client may shape the therapeutic process.

·         Humanizes you- Differences can lead to discomfort. By approaching your own discomfort with curiosity it allows you to look at the relationship with your client differences and see it from a different perspective.

What other ways do you think appreciating differences in the therapy room can help make better therapists?