The re-establishment of trust through psychotherapy

In the course of life's experiences mistrust develops in childhood and adulthood. Clinical manifestations of mistrustfulness in patients are discussed. Successful psychotherapy has as one of its principal goals the re-establishment of trust within the patient. This takes place through the development of trust toward the therapist. This experience serves as a bridge to the re-establishment of trust in others. Those personal qualities in the therapist which are of the greatest importance in this area are reliability and realistic hopefulness. Being taken seriously and the opportunity to attach to the therapist are also very significant. The place of the therapist's interventions as well as the relevant significant qualities in the patient are also discussed. Trust breeds trust, connection with others and, thence personal security. This is a basic goal of psychotherapy.