However, if you do not believe your clients, they may sense your doubt and never fully trust you. As Bruce Goderez {1986}, director of a PTSD inpatient unit says, "It is important for the clinician and counselor to be willing to be made a fool." In other words, it is better that you believe a client who is lying or distorting the truth than to disbelieve a hurting trauma survivor who may never seek help again if your attitude is one of disbelief or disdain. Even if that client were to continue in therapy, they would never fully trust you.
Trust forms the cornerstone of effective therapeutic relationships, especially when working with trauma survivors. When clinicians approach their clients with skepticism or suspicion, it inadvertently communicates a lack of belief in the client’s experiences, which can be profoundly damaging. Trauma survivors often carry feelings of shame, guilt, and fear, and if they sense that their therapist doubts their account—even unintentionally—they may feel invalidated or misunderstood. This can create an environment where the survivor does not feel safe to express their emotions or memories fully, potentially impeding their healing process. Bruce Goderez emphasizes the importance of humility and openness in clinical practice, suggesting that being willing to appear vulnerable, even to the point of looking foolish, can foster genuine connection and trust. It is more admirable and ultimately more effective to maintain a stance of unconditional belief and empathy, even when clients are struggling with honesty or distortions in their narrative. The trauma journey demands a compassionate stance, prioritizing trust and validation, as without these, survivors risk retreating further into silence or mistrust of mental health providers. A therapist’s willingness to accept the client's story without immediate judgment demonstrates respect and genuine concern, creating an environment where healing can occur. Recognizing the importance of embodying humility and openness is key to facilitating recovery and establishing a resilient therapeutic alliance, especially for those navigating the complex terrains of trauma recovery.
