Resumen En la formacion de los estudiantes de salud es importante el desarrollo de habilidades para abordar aspectos espirituales del paciente en la relacion terapeutica que se establece con ellos. Asi la atencion se prestara en forma mas humana, y en terminos de calidad, el paciente estara satisfecho por la atencion recibida. La relacion terapeutica concebida mas alla del diagnostico y del tratamiento implica reconocer la intima interrelacion que mantienen los sintomas con el estado psicologico y afectivo del paciente; por lo tanto, la funcion de reconocimiento y de liberacion catartica que tiene el escucharlo, puede disminuir la carga emocional que da la enfermedad, la vivencia de la misma y la muerte. Incorporar la comunicacion a la relacion facilitara ocuparse de los miedos, temores y la soledad que padecen las personas enfermas. Palabras clave: Relacion de ayuda, necesidad espiritual, sufrimiento espiritual, interaccion, comunicacion humana. Abstract In the formation of health students it is important the development of abilities to approach the spiritual aspect of the patients in the therapeutic relationship that is established with them. Thus, the care will be provided in a more humane way and in terms of quality, the patients will be satisfied by the attention provided to them. The therapeutic relationship conceived beyond the diagnosis and the treatment, implies to recognize the close interrelation that the symptoms have with the psychological and affective state of the patients. Therefore the function of cathartic recognition and liberation that is provided by listening to them can reduce the emotional load that is brought about by the illness, by experiencing it, and by death. By integrating communication into the relationship will enable to take care of the fears, frights and loneliness that ill people suffer. Key words: Help relationship, spiritual needs, spiritual needs, spiritual suffering, human interaction, human communication.