The First Stage of Therapy: Getting to Know Your Therapist

When any new relationship starts, there's always that "getting to know you" stage — fun, maybe a little awkward, but vital. In therapy, this stage is especially important.

Rapport — a relationship built on mutual understanding and empathy that makes genuine communication possible — is the foundation of effective therapy. When we're building rapport, we're figuring out how to connect with our clients, make them feel safe, and build the trust needed to get to the real goal-oriented work.

Research shows that the most influential factor in a successful therapeutic outcome is the relationship between the therapist and the client (Hanser, 2018) — so starting that relationship on the right foot matters more than you might think.

Building rapport might look like letting a client choose their preferred musical activities, asking about their interests and music preferences, or simply taking time to make a genuine connection. It might not look a lot like traditional therapy — but it is an incredibly important part of the process.

We're all more able to be ourselves when we feel comfortable and accepted. As therapists, we always want our clients to feel they can show up authentically, so we can make real progress together.

Once rapport is established, the real goal-oriented work begins. Read our post on Understanding Music Therapy Goals to see what that looks like.

References
Hanser, S. B. (2018). The new music therapist's handbook. Boston, MA: Berklee Press.