2. • Understanding the client’s problem –
• Some client’s will have an idea of a challenge while others will not. Our goal is to
help identify the challenges that the client is presenting with, isolate the dx, and
allow this to help create a tx plan/goals that the client comes up with/agrees with.
• Our job as a therapist is to listen for ways that we can be helpful and through the
lens of your theoretical orientation
• What is a theory and how does it guide treatment?
3. • Dealing with crisis situations –
• Try to stay as calm as possible for the client is turning to you to help regulate. You are
also modeling calmness to them in that moment. Offer hope and empathy.
• Listen with your body, mind and heart.
• Don’t try to solve the problem too quickly, let the client speak about what is
happening.
• Safety is a priority for you and for the client.
• Know when to call for help – 911, crisis line.
• Help the client to ground themselves.
4. • Reframing challenges, owning what the client needs to own to help solve the
problem, understanding any denial. This will help breakthrough blame.
• Motivational interviewing techniques – please refer to handout.
• -Rolling with the resistance – arguments for change are avoided, rather accept
and understand where the client is coming from. We do not want to place blame,
but to grow insight from the client’s perspective.
• Identifying Discrepancies – Pointing out the client’s behaviors and the
incongruence of this behavior with the client’s values.
5. • Advanced reflecting – can be used to help the client identify what they want or
need. It is a way of offering empathy by identifying underlying feelings, needs and
wants. An emotion that is underlying the emotion that you express.
• Identifying patterns and themes – Connecting challenges to thoughts and
emotions. Using substances to thought patterns and themes. Looking at the
actions as well, based on thoughts and feelings.
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