In the therapeutic space, the relationship between therapist and client is central to healing and growth. Functional analytic psychotherapy (FAP) emphasises this relationship, offering a powerful behavioural framework built on awareness, courage, and love. Crucially, FAP recognises the dual responsibility of the therapist: to provide a safe and nurturing connection while also challenging and disrupting familiar, unhelpful behavioural patterns.
This balance can be difficult to strike. Many therapists find the “challenging” aspect particularly hard because it can lead to discomfort or resistance in clients. However, FAP shows us that discomfort is not the enemy, it is the birthplace of growth. Here, we explore how the FAP model frames this delicate dance and offers tools for therapists to navigate it effectively, fostering deeper connections and meaningful change.
Awareness, courage, and love: key pillars of FAP
At the core of FAP are three guiding principles: awareness, courage, and love. These are not abstract concepts but practical behaviours that therapists can cultivate and model within the therapeutic relationship. It’s important to note, that the terms awareness, courage and love (ACLs) are a shorthand, and accessible ways to describe complex behavioural repertoires that occur in therapy.
Awareness
Awareness is about being fully present in the moment and attuned to the client’s behaviour, as well as your own. It involves noticing subtle shifts in the client’s verbal and nonverbal patterns, especially those that align with their struggles or growth edges.
In behavioural terms this can be described as discriminative responding to a client’s clinically relevant behaviours to enhance functional analysis and therapeutic attunement.
For example, a client who avoids vulnerability might subtly deflect when discussing their emotions. As a therapist, awareness allows you to recognise this pattern in real-time and gently bring it into focus.
How to develop awareness:
- Practice mindfulness regularly to sharpen your ability to be present.
- Observe your own emotional responses during sessions; these can provide valuable clues about the relational dynamic.
- Look for clinically relevant behaviours (CRBs): behaviours that reflect the client’s struggles (CRB1) or growth (CRB2).
Courage
Courage in therapy means being willing to step into discomfort; your own and your client’s. Challenging entrenched patterns can be risky, as it may provoke resistance or pain. However, when done with care and intention, these challenges are transformative.
Behaviourally, this can be stated as emitting behaviours that evoke and shape a client’s clinically relevant behaviours despite potential aversive contingencies.
For instance, you might gently confront a client who habitually downplays their achievements, encouraging them to explore why self-criticism feels safer than self-compassion. This requires courage: to push past the fear of upsetting the client and trust in the therapeutic process.
How to practice courage:
- Reframe discomfort as an opportunity for growth, both for you and your client.
- Prepare to take relational risks; such as naming difficult truths; while maintaining a foundation of safety.
- Use the therapeutic relationship as a safe space to model courage, showing clients that discomfort can be faced and navigated.
Love
In FAP, love refers to deep care and authentic connection. It’s about creating a space where clients feel seen, valued, and accepted. Love doesn’t mean avoiding conflict or challenge; rather, it means delivering challenges in a way that communicates care and respect.
A behavioural description of love in this context can be put as differential reinforcement of a client’s clinically significant improvements to strengthen prosocial and therapeutic behaviour.
For instance, when offering feedback about a client’s unhelpful behaviour, framing it within the context of their goals and values demonstrates love. You’re not criticising their choices, you’re helping them move closer to the person they want to be.
How to embody love:
- Show genuine warmth and empathy, even when addressing difficult topics.
- Validate the client’s experiences while gently highlighting areas for growth.
- Celebrate small victories and affirm the client’s courage in confronting their struggles.
The FAP framework: balancing connection and challenge
One of the most valuable aspects of FAP is its clear framework for navigating the balance between connection and challenge. This is achieved through CRB awareness:
- CRB1: Problematic behaviours that reflect the client’s struggles (e.g., avoidance, self-criticism).
- CRB2: Growth behaviours that reflect progress toward the client’s goals (e.g., self-assertion, vulnerability).
Therapists are encouraged to reinforce CRB2s while gently challenging CRB1s. This requires both safety (to allow the client to feel supported) and disruption (to encourage growth). Here’s how therapists can approach this balance:
1. Create a safe base
- Build trust by validating the client’s experiences and emotions.
- Use active listening and empathy to demonstrate your genuine care.
2. Identify growth opportunities
- Observe CRB1s and CRB2s during sessions.
- Reflect these behaviours back to the client with curiosity and compassion.
3. Challenge with care
- When you notice a CRB1, gently question its function. For example, “I wonder if avoiding this topic feels safer in the moment but might be holding you back from what you want.”
- Offer small, manageable challenges to encourage CRB2s.
4. Reinforce progress
- When clients display CRB2s, celebrate these moments and highlight their significance. For example, “I really admire how openly you shared that, it shows incredible courage.”
Suggestions for therapists
To implement these principles effectively, therapists can cultivate the following skills and mindsets:
- Practice self-compassion: Therapists, like clients, may feel discomfort when challenging others. Remind yourself that this discomfort is part of the work and reflects your commitment to the client’s growth.
- Use supervision: Discuss challenging cases with peers or supervisors to gain perspective and refine your approach.
- Model vulnerability: Share your reflections (appropriately) to demonstrate openness and authenticity. For example, “I notice I feel worried about pushing too hard here, but I think it’s important to explore this together.”
- Commit to ongoing learning: Engage in FAP training to deepen your understanding and skills.