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By Rich Simon It seems astonishing that even just two or three decades ago, parents not only pretty much knew what was expected of them to turn their offspring into civilized adults, but they could actually count on society to back them up. Even more astounding, kids seemed to understand this, too. Even if they rebelled against, yelled about, or sullenly resented how “unfair” adults were, they seemed to acknowledge adult authority and realize that they would just have to wait until they turned 18 to get for themselves the keys to the kingdom of grown-up independence. | Avoiding Clinical Drift |
Avoiding Clinical DriftLearning how to use CARE with your clientsBy David Bricker, Mark Glat, and Sherri Stover Q: Lately, some of my therapy sessions are feeling less focused--more like friendly conversations and reviews of the week's events. How can I better organize my work and keep therapy moving toward objective, recognizable goals? A: Getting unstuck in your therapy requires a good "clinical toolbox"--a set of useful, empirically informed ideas about therapy and human behavior that are easy to remember, easy to access, and foster "clinical mindfulness." Being an effective therapist requires not only being empathic, but having concrete skills that help make a difference in the lives of our clients. The toolbox we use has four compartments that correspond to the areas most clients must address in therapy: * Cognitions--all the words, ideas, and concepts that shape a client's way of seeing the world; * Actions--behaviors and activities that structure experiences inside and outside of the consulting room; * Relaxation--that's shorthand for the importance of managing bodily responses, especially anxiety, in clinical work; * Emotional Expression--the role that feelings play in all forms of psychotherapy. Keeping the acronym of CARE in mind (as both an idea and a mantra) will help your practice become more focused and effective.
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