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How to Avoid/Address Pitfalls in the Therapeutic Relationship

Dan Kolubinski

15 Jan 2026

£40.50
£32.40 for NHS, charities, universities

Introduction

The therapeutic relationship is a cornerstone of effective clinical practice, but it is also fraught with potential pitfalls that can hinder progress or even cause harm. This webinar, "How to Avoid/Address Pitfalls in the Therapeutic Relationship," will offer practical strategies for recognizing and addressing these challenges. Drawing from the latest research and grounded in real-world clinical experience, this event will provide attendees with tools to strengthen their therapeutic alliances and navigate complex dynamics. Whether you’re new to therapy or a seasoned practitioner, this session aims to deepen your understanding of relational pitfalls and offer actionable solutions.


The event will be equivalent to 2 hrs of CPD.

Content

The webinar will cover common pitfalls in the therapeutic relationship, including boundary issues and ruptures. We will explore how these dynamics can manifest in various clinical settings and discuss strategies for addressing them in a way that fosters trust and growth. Participants will learn techniques to enhance attunement, manage emotional triggers, and repair therapeutic ruptures. The session will also emphasise the importance of reflective practice and supervision in maintaining a healthy therapeutic relationship. Practical examples and case vignettes will be used to illustrate key concepts and techniques that can be immediately applied in clinical practice.

Learning Objectives

• Identify common pitfalls in the therapeutic relationship and their impact on clinical outcomes.
• Develop strategies to manage transference, countertransference, and boundary issues effectively.
• Implement techniques for repairing ruptures and rebuilding trust in the therapeutic alliance.
• Integrate reflective practices to enhance self-awareness and prevent common relational pitfalls.

Training Modalities

The webinar will include didactic content, Q&A, and case vignettes to illustrate key concepts. There will be opportunities for interactive participation through live polls regarding clinical scenarios. Self-reflective exercises will help clinicians identify potential areas for growth within their own practice.

Key References

Clarkson, P. (2003). The Therapeutic Relationship.
Gelso, C.J., & Hayes, J.A. (1998). The Psychotherapy Relationship: Theory, Research, and Practice.

Norcross, J.C. (Ed.). (2002). Psychotherapy Relationships That Work: Therapist Contributions and Responsiveness to Patients.
Rogers, C.R. (1961). On Becoming a Person: A Therapist's View of Psychotherapy.

Safran, J.D., & Muran, J.C. (2000). Negotiating the Therapeutic Alliance: A Relational Treatment Guide.

Wampold, B.E., & Imel, Z.E. (2015). The Great Psychotherapy Debate: The Evidence for What Makes Psychotherapy Work.

About the presenter

Dr Dan Kolubinski is a seasoned clinician, educator and presenter with nearly 20 years of
experience as a Cognitive-Behavioural Therapist. He is known for his research into self-critical
rumination, a process of dwelling on self-critical thoughts without an attempt to problem-solve and works clinically with individuals and couples in varying degrees of distress.

Who should attend

This webinar is suitable for clinicians across various disciplines, including psychologists, counsellors, psychotherapists, and primary and secondary care practitioners. It will be particularly beneficial for those working in adult mental health, child and adolescent services, or specialised areas where relational dynamics are central to treatment.

Low Intensity clinical contact hours survey - BABCP Low Intensity Special Interest Group

Please click below if you are interested in contributing to the survey.

 

The BACP Low Intensity SIG are interested in the impact of clinical contact hours on Low Intensity/Wellbeing Practitioner wellbeing. This questionnaire contains six multi-choice questions and a free text box for you to share your experiences. The answers to these questions will help the BABCP SIG plan how to meet CPD topics and other developments within the SIG.  The SIG hope to produce a write up of the answers to this questionnaire to be shared with SIG members and to be used in training.

View Survey

This FREE conference is for Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners working in Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression services and is brought to you by Bespoke Mental Health in collaboration with the NHS National PWP Leads Network.

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