[Reflections on therapeutic relationship and its clinical practice in mental health nursing]

The purpose of this paper is to unravel the theoretical concepts behind therapeutic relationship for careful consideration. The therapeutic or helping relationship is the pillar on which is built the mental health nursing. It is based on an efficient and accurate communication and management relational skills on the part of the nurse. However, and despite the theoretical knowledge of these skills in the field of mental health nursing, there is enough evidence to believe that they are not applied within suitable quality standards. Theoretical concepts such as empathic attitude, unconditional acceptance and active listening become real with the daily exercise of the nursing profession. In the same way, practice also creates conceptual differences, prejudices, fears, and self-protection mechanisms that limit the relationship and they put distance between patient and nurse.