Two investigations were undertaken to ascertain whether therapists with divergent theoretical views and therapeutic techniques also differed in their concept of an ideal therapeutic relationship. In both studies only one general factor was found. The better trained therapists of different schools agreed more highly with each other than they agreed with less well trained therapists within their own school. Naive subjects were well able to describe the ideal therapeutic relationship. The therapeutic relationship may be but a variation of good interpersonal relationships in general. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)