1. The special relationship between the client and the therapist.
2. It is a permanent and lasting relationship.
3. Two major components- contractual nature; limited duration of the therapy.
4. Trusting and confiding relationship. The therapist encourages this by being accepting, empathic, genuine and warm to the client; s/he is not judging the client even if the client is rude or confides all the ‘wrong’ things. This is the unconditional positive regard which the therapist has for the client.
5. The therapist has empathy for the client - understanding things from the other person’s perspective. Empathy enriches the therapeutic relationship and transforms it into a healing relationship.
6. The therapeutic alliance also requires that the therapist must keep strict confidentiality. The therapist must not exploit the trust and the confidence of the client.
7. Finally, it is a professional relationship, and must remain so.