This article discusses the importance of the therapist bringing his or her whole self into the therapeutic relationship in a fully human, imperfect way. Through two case examples the author demonstrates that if therapists work in the transferential relationship and allow themselves to be both impactful and impacted, mistakes will be inevitable and can provide creative therapeutic opportunities. Theories about therapeutic ruptures from transactional analysis and the wider psychotherapy field are presented, and the advantages and risks of working relationally in this way are described.
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