ACT Essentials: Building strong therapeutic relationships

ACT Essentials: Building Stronger Therapeutic Relationships Using ACT Principles
Join Laura Rathbone, pain specialist physiotherapist and ACT educator, as she explores what actually creates effective therapeutic relationships in pain care, drawing on research evidence and practical clinical wisdom.

What You'll Learn:
In this webinar, Laura examines the therapeutic relationship through multiple lenses:
What IS a Therapeutic Relationship?
Carl Rogers' core conditions (unconditional positive regard, empathy, congruence) and how these show up in pain consultations. Why the relationship is the container for change, not just context.
The Evidence Base
Research consistently shows therapeutic alliance predicts outcomes more than specific techniques. How relationship quality impacts pain care and why poor relationships can worsen outcomes.
Contextual Factors
Working within real-world constraints (time pressures, system barriers, power dynamics). Building therapeutic alliance even in 15-minute appointments through honesty and presence.
ACT's Contribution
Using present moment awareness, values, and psychological flexibility to navigate challenging relational moments. Practical examples from clinical practice.


Key Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction and welcome
7:00 - What is a therapeutic relationship really?
9:04 - Dan Zahavi's concept of "we-ness" and togetherness
11:42 - Carl Rogers' core conditions explained
13:32 - Unconditional positive regard in practice
16:40 - Empathy vs sympathy
18:08 - Common misconceptions about therapeutic relationships
21:40 - The research evidence on therapeutic alliance
24:00 - Why we don't train relational skills more
27:52 - Contextual factors and system barriers
29:11 - Building relationships in 15-minute appointments
32:01 - Using ACT principles in challenging relational moments
36:06 - About Laura's ACT in the Clinic course
39:30 - Key takeaway: Creating "we-ness" in therapy
Key Takeaways


About Laura Rathbone
Laura is a specialist physiotherapist working in chronic and complex pain at Amsterdam UMC (OLVG). She's been training healthcare professionals in ACT for 9 years and is part of the teaching faculty with NOI Group. Together with Christine Petrides, she runs Pain Geeks, an international multidisciplinary reading community supporting clinicians to develop their academic skills and professional networks. Laura works trauma-informed and psychologically informed, bringing cutting-edge science together with compassionate, inclusive practice in her role as pain consultant physiotherapist.

Upcoming ACT Course
Laura's next comprehensive ACT in the Clinic course begins February 3rd, 2026. This 4-week online program is specifically designed for non-psychologically trained clinicians who want to integrate ACT into their practice, with significant focus on relational processes and therapeutic alliance.

Early bird pricing ends December 30th, 2026
Learn more: https://www.laurarathbone.com/act-in-the-c...

Connect with Laura

Laura Rathbone: https://www.laurarathbone.com/
Pain Geeks Community: https://www.paingeeks.community/
NOI Group: www.noigroup.com

This webinar is ideal for physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and other healthcare professionals interested in deepening their understanding of therapeutic relationships in pain care and integrating ACT principles into their practice.

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