Understanding Response-Based Practice
Response-Based Practice is a therapeutic approach that highlights how people respond to adversity with dignity and resistance. While our network of RBP practitioners is growing, you can explore therapists who use related strengths-based and trauma-informed approaches.
Response-Based Practice (RBP) is a therapeutic approach developed by Dr. Allan Wade and colleagues that focuses on understanding how individuals respond to violence, adversity, and other difficult life circumstances. Rather than viewing people as passive victims, RBP recognizes that individuals always respond to mistreatment in ways that preserve their dignity and resist oppression—even when those responses are subtle or internal. This perspective can be empowering for people who have experienced trauma, abuse, or systemic injustice.
RBP often supports those navigating experiences of interpersonal violence, institutional harm, or social marginalization. If you're interested in this approach, you may also find value in exploring related therapeutic frameworks such as narrative therapy, trauma-informed care, or strengths-based counselling. First Session's growing network includes therapists trained in various approaches that honour client resilience and agency.
Therapy is hard work.
Response-Based Practice is a therapeutic and analytical approach that examines how people respond to adversity, violence, and injustice. Developed primarily in Canada, RBP challenges the notion that people are simply damaged by difficult experiences. Instead, it highlights the ways individuals actively resist mistreatment and preserve their dignity, even in subtle ways. This approach is often used in therapy, social work, child protection, and community advocacy to reframe how we understand and discuss experiences of violence and hardship.
Response-Based Practice may help individuals recognize their own strength and agency in the face of difficult circumstances. By focusing on responses rather than solely on impacts, RBP can support people in reclaiming their sense of competence and dignity. This approach often supports healing by validating the ways people have protected themselves and resisted harm. Many people find that RBP offers a less pathologizing framework for understanding their experiences, which can reduce shame and support a more empowered sense of self.
Response-Based Practice can support anyone who has experienced violence, abuse, discrimination, or other forms of adversity. It may be particularly meaningful for survivors of interpersonal violence, those affected by systemic injustice, or individuals who have felt misunderstood by traditional therapeutic approaches. RBP is also used by professionals in fields such as social work, child welfare, and community advocacy. Anyone seeking a therapeutic approach that honours their resilience and highlights their agency may find RBP valuable.
While Response-Based Practice is a specialized approach with a growing community of practitioners, finding a dedicated RBP therapist may require some exploration. First Session's network includes therapists trained in related approaches such as trauma-informed care, narrative therapy, and strengths-based counselling. When searching for a therapist, consider asking about their approach to understanding client resilience and how they view responses to adversity. Booking a free consultation can help you find someone whose approach aligns with what you're seeking.
Several therapeutic approaches share philosophical ground with Response-Based Practice. Narrative therapy similarly focuses on how people make meaning of their experiences and offers ways to reauthor personal stories. Trauma-informed approaches broadly recognize the impact of adversity while supporting healing. Strengths-based and solution-focused therapies also emphasize client capabilities rather than deficits. If you're drawn to RBP's values of dignity and resistance, exploring these related approaches may help you find a therapist whose perspective resonates with you.
First Session makes it easier to find a therapist in Canada by offering verified therapist profiles with intro videos so you can get a sense of each therapist's style before booking. You can filter by specialty, location, and whether you prefer online or in-person sessions. While our network of RBP specialists is growing, you can explore therapists who offer trauma-informed, narrative, or strengths-based approaches. Credentials are verified during onboarding, and many therapists offer free consultations to help you find the right fit.