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Constructivist Chronicle
Viewing Therapy from a New Angle: Your
Client’s
As a therapist, it is important to
be able to view the world from the eyes of your client.
Understanding how they feel and how they interpret the world can
aid in the progression of therapeutic goals. Clients value the
therapist’s attempts to relate to and understand issues from
their unique vantage point. Recently, a therapy client shared a
wish with me. It was the wish that all therapists could
understand how difficult it is for clients to make the decision
to enter therapy and how intimidating the process is at the
beginning stages, especially given the negative stigma that
still surrounds therapy. For many clients, asking for help is
not an easy task. I challenge therapists to mentally trade
places with your clients, even for just a few moments, to
understand what they experience throughout the process of
therapy. Envision how they feel as they are contemplating making
that first call to schedule an evaluation, as they are entering
your office nervously and cautiously for the first time, and as
they reluctantly pour their hearts out and bear their souls.
Only then can we begin to realize how much our empathy, support,
understanding and caring is needed to begin the process of
healing. It is easy to get caught up in our day and to let the
stress and strain of hearing others’ problems wear on us over
time. But we must never forget that our full presence and
compassion is necessary for each client and that this compassion
may make an impact far greater than we are capable of knowing.
If we traded places with our clients, would we be pleased with
the care that we give on a daily basis? Would we see the
therapist that we are striving to be? Dare to view yourself from
a new perspective. You may be surprised at what you find.
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