Graduate Counseling Student’s Personal Relationships Need Intentional Consideration for Success

A counselor’s relationship skills are required to be exceptional, regardless of his/her therapeutic orientation. Often, counselors can build quality therapeutic relationships, yet struggle in their personal relationships. Review of current research and qualitative experiences of counselors and their partner relationships are presented. The unique experience of the relationship between a counselor and his/her partner is discussed. Strategies are explored for building a healthy relationship, including setting goals to build resilience in the counselor/partner relationship. The implications for graduate counselor programs is introduced, including suggestions that will benefit students in their relationships at the beginning, middle, and end of their graduate counselor training.