Strategy #4 for Building Client Relationships

In this series, we discuss various strategies for creating a relationship through therapeutic rapport. To see the entire series, click here.

Take advantage of out-of-group interactions.

Greeting clients warmly if you see them around the building, stopping and chatting with them when they're waiting by the front office, etc., can go a long way.  Sometimes, I am the recipient of results from their weekly cooking class, get to see videos of piano playing that happened in the sensory room while I was gone, or get thrown a big holla and wave when I walk into the building.  I am not in this facility full time, and so I take full advantage of any random encounter I may have to touch base and have a positive encounter with my clients.  For me, this may look like simple eye contact and a head nod, a big smile and wave, or responding warmly to a conversation they initiate.  To me, this has built trust and attachment which has allowed us to have some truly remarkable sessions.

A small disclaimer:  I have not encountered my clients in public settings outside of my facility, but would of course respect confidentiality and let them take the lead in any interaction in those settings.

What about you?  How do you develop rapport with your clients?  Are there some ways that have been more successful than others?  Do you think these techniques work with any population or are more specific to certain populations? 

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