Therapeutic relationships across the lifespan.

Allan, Elaine; Henderson, Louise; Hay-Higgins, Emma

Abstract

This chapter aims to help readers develop a critical understanding of therapeutic relationships in the context of community nursing. It encompasses multiple perspectives of community nurses who support people across the lifespan and highlights the underpinning principles of therapeutic relationships, whilst considering people as partners. The features of therapeutic relationships are considered, exploring interpersonal connections with self and people that community nurses support. The key features of a therapeutic relationship and how those might be nurtured are outlined. Influential factors in forming therapeutic relationships are explored, acknowledging the power balance, the need for self-wellbeing and the community context of these relationships. This chapter concludes with a valuable opportunity for readers to critically analyse the key principles of forming, progressing, maintaining and concluding therapeutic relationships and considers how these theories and principles might be applied to their own practice.

Citation

ALLAN, E., HENDERSON, L. and HAY-HIGGINS, E. 2025. Therapeutic relationships across the lifespan. In Chilton, S. and Bain, H. (eds.) A textbook of community nursing. Third edition. Abingdon: Routledge [online], chapter 7, pages 145-177. Available from: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003347545-8

• Online Publication Date: Dec 23, 2024
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2025
• Deposit Date: Jun 27, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 24, 2025
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 145-177
• Edition: Third edition
• Book Title: A textbook of community nursing
• Chapter Number: 7
• ISBN: 9781032389356; 9781032381176
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003347545-8
• Keywords: Therapeutic relationships; Community nursing; Nursing
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2593170