The following information is offered to help clients develop a supportive relationship outside the context of therapy. Prospective clients are given a copy of these guidelines and asked to retain it for reference.

• Be clear and honest with one another about what kind of friendship support is needed and what can be realistically offered.
• Clarify the level of confidentiality between you. Work with similar boundaries to therapy.
• Aim to meet regularly face to face by booking time together in advance. Establish a safe, containing relationship. (Regularity will vary from weekly to monthly, depending on individual need).
• Clarify whether direct questioning about the therapy is OK or not.
• Respect and maintain the confidentiality boundary for any group work that the therapy involves. A client in group therapy must only focus on his or her individual experience. Please refuse to satisfy any curiosity about the experience of others.
• Thoughtful listening, accepting without judgement, offering empathy and being real with one another create safety in relationship.
• Be prepared for strong reactions to the therapeutic experience. The client needs to be encouraged to bring these reactions back into the therapy in order to understand their meaning and significance.
• If you need specific help or further guidance in this supportive relationship, please discuss this with the therapist.