UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

Unconditional love is love without conditions.  That means one is able to give  love, with no expectations or need of receiving anything in return, to someone regardless of his or her beliefs or actions.  There are no standards, ideals, or preconceived notions for the other’s behavior or situation.  In unconditional love there is no threat of abandonment or efforts to gain power-as-control.  Rather, power-as-freedom allows for whatever is best for the other person, according to the other person’s determination of what that might be.  Unconditional love is a one-way street for the person giving it.  While it may be difficult to love unconditionally, that is the spiritual intention in a caring, professional relationship.  Unconditional love may be the most important answer to the question, “How do therapeutic relationships heal?”