Relational cultural theory: Context in therapy

Relational cultural theory identifies relational connection as central to healing. Relational cultural theory's tenets-authenticity, zest, mutuality, and collaboration-engender healing through promoting clients' relational connection with the self, the clinician, and other people. Understanding the individual, familial, community, and sociocultural contexts in which clients are located allows for deliberately incorporating political processes into therapy. Though there are similarities and differences between CBT and relational cultural therapy, recent progress builds on past work that identifies relational cultural theory as central in culturally competent trauma therapy. Burgeoning work demonstrates the pedagogical use of relational cultural theory in clinical training. Future directions for research include that related to intervention with couples, families, and adolescent girls. The growing grasp of relational cultural theory provides new avenues for therapy that is feminist, sociocultural, power-attuning, political, socially just, and ever-relational.