What are the phases of relationship building?

• A. Introduction, goal setting, resistance and change
• B. Initiation, clarification, structure, and relationship
• C. Exploration, clarification, planning, and termination
• D. Clarification, consolidation, structure, and relationship

Answer: (B)

Building a helping relationship unfolds through four stages: initiation, clarification, structure, and relationship. In initiation, the helper begins contact, sets a welcoming, safe tone, and invites the client to engage. Clarification follows, where the client’s concerns, goals, and expectations are explored and both parties align on what success would look like. Establishing structure comes next: they agree on how sessions will run, boundaries, confidentiality, roles, and a plan for moving forward. The final stage centers on the relationship itself—deepening trust, empathy, and collaboration to support change. This sequence shows how a strong alliance is formed step by step, moving from first contact to a solid, working partnership. Other options mix elements like resistance, goals, planning, or termination, which aren’t the stages used to describe building the relationship itself.