Introduction: Exploring responsiveness and attunement in psychotherapy

Responsiveness in psychotherapy is recognized as ubiquitous characteristic of therapist–client interaction and dialogue. Synonyms for responsiveness include openness, alertness, sensitivity, approachability, and having positive reactions toward another, whereas being nonresponsive is described by words such as sluggish, slow, sleepy, unaware, or giving no response. The synonyms for responsiveness convey quality of being fully present and available in the moment, whereas the antonyms convey an absence or lack of attention and disregard for the other. This introductory chapter provides a brief description about the book and its subsequent chapters. The book focuses on therapist and client processes and the identification of specific signals that alert clinicians to shifts in clients' process and behavior in the therapy hour and over the course of therapy to be maximally responsive to their clients. It recognizes that therapists' responsiveness is important to facilitate new emotional learning and reconsolidate emotional memories to promote change in psychotherapy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)