Which stage of the helping relationship involves the initial meeting with the client?

The stage of the helping relationship that involves the initial meeting with the client is Client Arrival. This phase is crucial as it sets the tone for the entire helping relationship. During this initial meeting, the helper and the client first encounter each other, creating an opportunity for the helper to establish rapport, build trust, and make the client feel comfortable. The dynamics of this meeting can greatly affect the effectiveness of future interactions.

In the Client Arrival stage, the helper typically gathers important background information, discusses the client's needs and expectations, and begins to understand the context in which the client is seeking help. This stage lays the groundwork for collaboration and helps to identify the focus areas for intervention in subsequent stages.

Other stages like Intervention and Termination come later in the process, where actual help is provided and the relationship is concluded, respectively. The preparation stage typically occurs prior to the Client Arrival, involving the helper getting ready for the meeting rather than interacting directly with the client. Therefore, the focus of the question on the initial meeting aligns perfectly with the importance of the Client Arrival stage in building a productive helping relationship.