"The Relationship is the Therapy": A Symposium on Therapy Research & Practice

From a small cluster of dominant schools, psychotherapy has evolved, over the past century, into a rich array of modalities. Within this pluralised landscape, psychodynamic, cognitive, humanistic, systemic, somatic and integrative frameworks each advance distinctive models of mind, emotion, and therapeutic change. Alongside these sit expressive and experiential approaches, making therapeutic use of art, music, drama, movement and play. Yet despite their diversity, effective therapies share a decisive agent of change: the collaborative alliance between therapist and client. Across modalities, as Michael Kahn puts it, “the relationship is the therapy.”

But how have such relationships been theorised, researched and practiced across different psychological paradigms? And how might they change in different institutional contexts—from private practice to education and the criminal justice system? In what ways have cultural politics—including feminist and decolonial critiques—reframed the ethical stakes of the therapeutic encounter? And how have emerging digital technologies—from app-based programmes to AI counselling—reimagined the clinical dyad?

This one-day symposium explores the therapeutic relationship from a wide range of clinical and academic perspectives. Scholars of the humanities and social sciences will be joined by experts in therapy research and policy, as well as clinicians spanning the full spectrum of contemporary therapies. Panels, roundtables and papers will be in hybrid format; online attendance is welcome.

This hybrid event is free to attend

The Zoom details will be circulated closer to the date.

This event is organised by Dr. D.J. Pugh (Durham University) and Dr. Sahanika Ratnayake (Manchester University) and hosted by the Affective Experience Lab of the Discovery Research Platform for Medical Humanities.