Getting the most out of therapy
It is easy for us in the helping professions to forget what it is like for people coming to therapy for the first time. I have always believed in the courage it takes to be open with strangers to explore, the often uncomfortable and unpleasant, aspects of our lives.
For many people coming to therapy for the first time, is a frightening experience. I certainly know the feeling of being utter exposed as I sat describing my own issues while in therapy. While as therapist’s we get ourselves ready for the encounter in our own thoughtful way, how ready is the client to join us in the exploration that is going to take place.
A colleague, Tim Kilgour, suggested that I read a short publication that he put together for this very reason. How to Make the Most out of Your Therapy: A Guide for Clients receiving Talking Therapies from Psychologists, Counsellors and other Mental Health Professionals is an easy to read guide about how to make the most of your psychotherapy. It is designed for clients who are planning to enter into a talking-based therapy with a mental health professional (e.g. psychologist, counsellor, social worker or other professional therapist).
It outlines some ideas to help prepare for the therapeutic experience such as:
- outlining what the client may typically expect in early sessions
- describing aspects of the therapeutic relationship
- exploring helpful (and not so helpful) attitudes that a client may bring to enhance their progress
- exploring the purpose of homework
- explaining the value of others in the therapeutic setting
- describing the closing stage of treatment
- and gives tips on how to cope if therapy may go wrong.
This text is designed to give the client a “head start” in being able to form a therapeutic relationship to increase the likelihood of having a useful experience so that they can make the most of their “treatment dollar”.
At US$3.99 on Kindle, this short and helpful read is well worth the investment. It is the sort of resource that clients would benefit before they come and sit in the room with people like us. You can check out a copy on Amazon.
Published on Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012, under Practice tips and techniques
Comments are closed.
Sign up for our newsletter!
Recent Posts
- Ake – The pilot and evaluation begins
- Looking back and looking forward
- Te Huringa ō Te Ao – Sustainable behaviour change for men to restore whānau wellbeing
- Working with people who don’t want to work with you
- Are you ready to seriously consider change?
Categories
- Announcements
- Family violence
- Learning & development
- Motivational Interviewing
- Offender work
- Practice tips and techniques
- Programme design & development
- Uncategorised
- What Ken thinks
- Youth offending
Archives
- February 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- December 2021
- January 2020
- April 2019
- March 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- June 2018
- June 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- September 2016
- July 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- October 2015
- July 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- January 2014
- November 2013
- September 2013
- July 2013
- May 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- April 2011
- February 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- July 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- July 2009
- July 2008