Essay from the year 2007 in the subject Psychology - Consulting, Therapy, grade: Pass, University of the West of England, Bristol, course: Mental Health Nursing, language: English, abstract: This essay aims to discuss and explore the impact of diversity between nurse and patient within the confines of the therapeutic relationship; this is achieved through reflecting upon an interaction which occurred between a patient and myself during clinical practice. Peplau (1952) considers the therapeutic relationship to be the central focus of all nursing practice. Furthermore, Graham (2001), Lauder et al (2002) and Hewitt and Coffey (2005) all describe the therapeutic relationship as forming the "cornerstone" of modern nursing practice. Egan (1994) illustrates the 'skilled helper model' of counseling, which is reported by Sloan (1999) to promote warmth and genuineness during interactions with patients; this model focuses on the patient (Egan, 1994), and can be described as a "humanistic" approach to helping (Jones, 1998). It is for these reasons that I have elected to apply the use of this model to the interactions, which occurred between the patient and myself. Explicit consent was obtained from the patient in question for the material which was obtained during these interactions to be used within this assignment; and in order to conform to the code of conduct detailed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and to maintain the confidentiality of the patient, throughout this essay they will be referred to as Howard. Howard is a 38-year-old man, who had been unemployed and living in 'bed and breakfast' accommodation for the six months preceding his admission to hospital, following the breakdown of his marriage. It appeared that the stress, which culminated with the separation from his wife and their pending divorce, had led to a progressive deterioration in his mental state and mood, which had made it difficult for him to work.