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Building Therapeutic Rapport: Foundations of Trust and Engagement

CLINICAL EVENTS

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Building Therapeutic Rapport: Foundations of Trust and Engagement

Therapeutic Rapport

Dec. 11, 2026

10:00 AM - 1:15 PM (EST)

Virtual Event
3 CE Credits
What if your therapeutic rapport skills were as intentional as your clinical interventions? A strong therapeutic relationship is one of the most important predictors of successful treatment outcomes, yet many clinicians are never formally taught how to build rapport in a consistent, intentional way. This practical and engaging webinar will provide clinicians with concrete, evidence-based strategies to build trust, strengthen therapeutic connections, improve client engagement, and repair ruptures to support more effective and meaningful treatment.

The therapeutic rapport relationship is one of the most powerful predictors of treatment outcomes, yet many clinicians receive limited formal training in how to intentionally build, strengthen, and repair rapport. This webinar will provide a practical and clinically grounded framework for developing therapeutic trust and engagement from the very first session.

Participants will learn how to create psychological safety, strengthen connection through attunement and validation, navigate common barriers to rapport, and repair therapeutic ruptures when they occur. Drawing from evidence-based approaches including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and relational principles, this training will equip clinicians with concrete, actionable strategies to build stronger therapeutic alliances and improve client engagement and treatment outcomes.

Session Highlights

  • Strengthen your ability to build trust and therapeutic rapport from the first session, setting the foundation for effective clinical work.

  • Learn practical engagement strategies that increase client emotional safety, openness, and participation in treatment.

  • Recognize and navigate common rapport barriers such as resistance, guardedness, and interpersonal sensitivity.

  • Develop skills to repair therapeutic ruptures and sustain a strong alliance across the course of treatment.

  • Apply evidence-based relational techniques, including DBT-informed validation and attunement, to enhance treatment outcomes.

Key Takeaways for Clinicians

“Building therapeutic rapport is one of the strongest predictors of successful treatment outcomes. This workshop provides practical, evidence-based strategies to help clinicians establish trust, foster meaningful engagement, and create therapeutic relationships that support long-term client growth.

You’ll learn how therapeutic rapport develops through effective communication, empathy, active listening, and collaborative goal setting. Using real-world clinical examples, the training demonstrates how to strengthen the therapeutic alliance while responding to challenging client interactions with confidence and professionalism.

The workshop also explores how therapeutic rapport influences treatment adherence, client motivation, emotional safety, and overall clinical outcomes. Whether you’re working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, or families, you’ll gain practical techniques to strengthen therapeutic rapport across a variety of treatment settings and clinical presentations.

Continue expanding your clinical skills through our Clinical Blog and Upcoming Clinical Events, and deepen your understanding of relationship-centered care with guidance from the American Psychological Association (APA) and current research on therapeutic relationships”.

This live interactive webinar is designed for behavioral health professionals, including:

  • Counselors
  • Social Workers
  • Psychotherapists
  • Marriage & Family Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Substance Use Disorders Counselors
  • Case Managers
  • Physicians
  • Other Mental Health Professionals
Lexi Mulee, LMHC, CASAC-T, C-DBTLexi Mulee, LMHC, CASAC-T, C-DBT

Founder and owner of Wise Mind Counseling, a thriving DBT-based private practice in New York City. She specializes in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and applies it in her work with individuals navigating Borderline Personality Disorder, Eating Disorders, and Substance Use Disorders, with a particular passion for supporting LGBTQIA+ youth.  Lexi earned her undergraduate degree from Hofstra University and her graduate degree from the University of Miami. With over a decade of experience in inpatient and outpatient settings, she believes effective therapy is never one-size-fits-all. Her approach is highly individualized, strengths-based, and deeply collaborative, rooted in the DBT principle that client and clinician are equal partners, rowing together toward the client’s goals.  Beyond her clinical work, Lexi is a highly sought-after speaker and educator, known for her dynamic, relatable, and engaging teaching style—often compared to the likes of Brené Brown. Whether through storytelling, humor, or interactive exercises, Lexi has a knack for making even the most complex concepts feel accessible, inspiring, and fun to learn.

After this training, participants will be able to:

  • Identify the core components that contribute to building and maintaining strong therapeutic rapport.
  • Apply evidence-based strategies, including validation and attunement, to increase client trust and engagement.
  • Utilize effective techniques to identify and repair therapeutic ruptures to strengthen the therapeutic alliance.

10:00 -10:05 am – Introduction
10:05-10:30 am – Rapport Overview: What Rapport Is and Why It Is Essential for Treatment Outcomes
10:30-11:00 am – Rapport-Building Skills Part 1: Remembering the Details, Making Outside Connections, and Genuine Reactions
11:00-11:30 am – Rapport-Building Skills Part 2: Humor and Playfulness, Matching Client Energy, and Appropriate Informality
11:30-11:45 am – Break
11:45-12:15 pm – Rapport-Building Skills Part 3: Letting the Client Steer and Goal Wrangling to Strengthen Engagement
12:15-12:45 pm – Advanced Rapport Considerations: Cultural Awareness and Identity Factors in Rapport
12:45-1:05 pm – Rapport Busters and Rupture and Repair: Identifying and Addressing Breakdowns in the Therapeutic Relationship
1:05-1:15 pm – Q&A

All levels. This presentation will provide foundational strategies for newer clinicians and deeper relational and clinical insight for more experienced professionals.

Registration Cost

Registration $67 | Dec. 11 | Virtual Event | 3 CE Credits | 10:00 am – 1:15 pm ET

Registration Deadline:  Dec. 11, 2026

Cancellation Policy

All registrations are non-refundable. However, you may request a full credit toward a future training if:

  • You notify us at least 72 hours before the event starts.
  • Credit is valid for up to 6 months from the original event date.
  • No credit will be issued for no-shows or cancellations made on the same day.
  • When you register for an event, you agree to these terms

Please email [email protected] to request a credit or reschedule.

A total of 3 CE credits are available.

Additional Approvals Pending.


ASWB ACE

Clinical Events, LLC, (provider # 2201) is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 11/01/2025 – 11/01/2028.

NBCC

Clinical Events, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved   Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7643 Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Clinical Events, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

NAADAC

This course has been approved by Clinical Events, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #320899, Clinical Events is responsible for all aspects of the programming.

NY State Board of Psychologists

Clinical Events, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0292.

NY State Board of Psychoanalysts

Clinical Events, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychoanalysts #P-0073.

NY State Board of Social Workers

Clinical Events, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0828.

NY State Board of Mental Health Counselors

Clinical Events, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0329.

NY State Board of Marriage & Family Therapists

Clinical Events, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0140.

NJ State Board of Social Workers & Professional Counselors

The New Jersey Social Work Examiners Board accepts ASWB ACE Provider credits. The New Jersey Professional Counselors Board accepts NBCC-approved CE provider credits.

All Other States Social Workers & Professional Counselors

All other states accept ASWB ACE Provider credits and NBCC-approved CE provider credits. Licensees are responsible for determining whether courses meet the CE requirements in their jurisdictions. States and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for credit.

Florida Certification Board

Clinical Events is approved by the Florida Certification Board (FCB) to offer continuing education programs (Provider # 5527-A).

Canada Social Workers

BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, and QC accept ASWB ACE-approved provider programs to meet licensure renewal requirements.  Licensees are responsible for determining whether courses meet the CE requirements in their province. Provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for credit.

Canada Counsellors

Clinical Events is an NBCC-approved provider.  Licensees are responsible for determining whether courses meet the CE requirements in their province. Provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for credit.

Please contact us if you would like to inquire about applicable approvals for your continuing education (CE) needs.

Each professional is responsible for understanding and meeting the specific CE requirements set by their individual licensing board or regulatory agency. We encourage you to reach out to your licensing body directly to confirm how our programs apply toward your licensure renewal.

Questions:  [email protected]

In accordance with continuing education standards and requirements, the presenter discloses that they have no relevant financial relationships, affiliations, or conflicts of interest to report.

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