The relationship between a patient and his or her therapist is the most influential aspect of long term effectiveness of therapy. My ability to feel and communicate genuine empathy and understanding is critical to fostering an atmosphere in which a person feels safe enough and trusting enough to attend to his or her most fundamental struggles and the inevitable fears associated with them. I respect the vulnerability inherent to the work of therapy, and I pay close attention to my own and my patient's feelings and experience in the here and now of the therapy room. Together, we can then discover and gain understanding of how he or she experiences relationships, not only with people, but with all the facets of living. Sharing this understanding in a context in which one feels known and appreciated frees one to recognize and own personal values, perceive existing choices and alternative ways of being, and, ultimately, feel genuine security with and trust in oneself.