How Therapists Can Become Seat-of-the-Pants Counselors

I have been a therapist for four decades, working in a variety of settings, serving children and adults, individuals, couples, families and groups. My rolodex brain is filled to overflowing with ideas and interventions. Sometimes when I teach Continuing Education Classes for social workers, I am asked to offer more theory. Although I also have that stored in my cranium, I remind them that they can get theory from books. From me they get hands-on practical skills to incorporate into their practice and their own lives. My take on it is that the more capable we are at exploring our own shadows and strengths, the more adept we will be as guides for our clients. Therapists are “privileged listeners” — like hairdressers, clergy, bartenders and cab drivers. Clients rely on us to create a safe space for their emotional expression, and to keep those expressions confidential. It’s an honor and a sacred trust.  Recently, as I have been working with several clients who have symptoms of OCD, I am challenged to come up with strategies to help them circumnavigate the inexorable pull of the obsessive behaviors. Many of them have shared that they compare themselves to others, that they feel they are woefully lacking in some ability or quality, that they will never be enough. As a writer, metaphors are my mainstay. Today, when working with a tween client, we were taking a look at his most recent symptoms related to body image. What came to me as he was comparing himself to an id...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Personal Professional Psychology Psychotherapy Counseling Therapist Source Type: blogs