2️⃣🌟 Unconditional Positive Regard
Unconditional Positive Regard (UPR) is an attitude of unconditional love or acceptance towards others or one’s self. A meta-analysis by the American Psychology Association (APA) found UPR “as a significant component of the therapy relationship that leads to improved clinical outcomes” (Farber et al. 2018).
This follows logically. Therapists who demonstrate love and acceptance towards their clients would be more invested in them, passionate during sessions, and likely to encourage their clients. If a therapist disapproved of or disliked one of their clients, while they’d be able to perform their duties, they’d be less invested in the success of that client and less ready to offer encouragement or verbal demonstration of belief in them.
Farber, B. A., Suzuki, J. Y., & Lynch, D. A. (2018). Positive regard and psychotherapy outcome: A meta-analytic review. Psychotherapy, 55(4), 411–423. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000171