The Leading Edge in Emotionally Focused Therapy 131: The Transparent Therapist: Shining Light on Process, Intention, and Connection
Dec 11, 2025
Nicola Hawks, a therapist and trainer, discusses the pivotal role of transparency in therapy. She and host James explore how openness about intentions and emotional reactions fosters trust and safety in the therapeutic space. They delve into practical tools for effective communication, illustrating how transparency can guide clients through emotional landscapes. The conversation also touches on balancing risk with hope, and how modeling vulnerability can diminish shame for both therapists and clients. Insightful personal anecdotes enrich this engaging dialogue.
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Orient Clients To The Process
- Be explicit about the therapy process to give clients predictive safety and reduce hyperarousal.
- Tell clients where you are, where you're going, and why you’re taking them there before making big interventions.
Declare Your Intentions Upfront
- Declare your intentions before asking sensitive or risky questions to prevent misinterpretation.
- Explain why you ask about history, sex, or enactments so clients know you seek understanding, not judgment.
Scale Transparency To Risk Level
- The more emotional reactivity or risk in the room, the more transparent the therapist should be.
- Transparency functions as ‘‘pulling back the curtain’’ to let clients see the plan and lower defensiveness.