Relational psychoanalytic psychotherapy has emerged as a contemporary, collaborative, and ethically attuned approach to therapeutic work. Moving away from traditional models of therapeutic neutrality and abstinence, this approach centres the therapeutic relationship itself as a co-constructed space shaped by the minds of both client and therapist.
In this talk, attendees will be introduced to the foundational principles of the relational psychoanalytic model. The talk explores how the therapeutic relationship can be used as a dynamic tool to gain insights into the client's inner world while also inviting the therapist to reflect on their own subjectivity and presence in the room.
Particularly suited for clients who may find more rigid or neutral models of therapy alienating, the relational approach fosters mutual respect, psychological depth, and a context-sensitive mode of engagement. Emphasis will also be placed on the ethical dimensions of relational work, therapist self-awareness, and the impact of broader socio-cultural dynamics on the therapeutic encounter.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this talk, participants will be able to:
Explain the key theoretical foundations of relational psychoanalytic psychotherapy
Understand how the therapeutic relationship functions as a unit of analysis and change
Recognise the mutual influence of therapist and client in shaping the therapeutic process
Identify ethical considerations specific to relational psychodynamic practice
Reflect on the role of socio-cultural context and therapist self-awareness in therapeutic work