Oral Presentation by Ishba Rehman¹, Andre Etchebarne, Terry Hanley
¹ University of Manchester, United Kingdom
TIME: Tuesday, 14 July, 14:30 – 16:00
Location: Room 3
Session: 7
Abstract
Aim: This paper critically examines how the therapeutic relationship is understood and practised within Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). While CBT dominates contemporary mental health services, it is often experienced as overly technique-led, time-pressured, and aligned with individualised models of distress that sit comfortably within neoliberal and crisis-driven systems. We propose Humanistically Oriented CBT as a unifying approach that strengthens CBT through an explicit commitment to relational depth, shared power, and contextual understanding, without discarding its core principles. Methods: We developed this model through an integrative conceptual synthesis of CBT, humanistic psychology, and critical applied psychology. Points of tension and overlap were explored, particularly around how relationships, power, and meaning are constructed in therapy. A practical framework was shaped around key clinical tasks, including collaborative assessment, values- and strengths-based goal setting, flexible formulation, cognitive and behavioural work, embodied and grounding practices, and a social justice-informed stance. An intersectional lens is used throughout to attend to how social position, identity, and structural inequality shape therapeutic engagement. Findings: The model centres the therapeutic relationship as active rather than instrumental. It includes: (1) a relational foundation based on empathy, transparency, reflexivity, and shared power; (2) collaboration-first assessment and formulation that maintain CBT structure without becoming procedural; (3) meaning-focused cognitive work grounded in compassion and dialogue; (4) client-led behavioural experiments and exposure that prioritise autonomy over compliance; and (5) grounding and mindfulness practices used as relational and transdiagnostic supports. Discussion: Humanistically Oriented CBT offers a practical way of holding CBT’s evidence base alongside a more critical, relational, and socially aware practice. In the context of capitalism, crisis, and constrained mental health systems, this approach challenges reductive and individualising models of distress while remaining workable for clinicians. It is presented as a conceptual contribution, with future work planned around manual development, training, and evaluation.