Sometimes psychoactive medication can work wonders with agitated young clients in the throes of a psychological emergency. But psychiatrist Robert Hedaya, an expert in alternative psychotherapy and founder of the Whole Psychiatry methodology, is concerned with how little we know about the effects of meds on the brains of children and teens.

Are you at a loss when it comes to helping your high-strung, distressed clients? Maybe you’ve made some progress in helping your clients reduce anxiety, but think they could do even better with the right techniques.

How can you more effectively work with a client whose emotions have become all-consuming?
According to Joan Klagsbrun, author of Focusing-Oriented Art Therapy, Focusing techniques are especially effective for helping distressed clients navigate their inner repository of memories, feelings, emotions, and bodily sensations.

Have you ever had a new client come to a first session and announce—with a formality that seems right out of the DSM—exactly what his diagnosis is? Perhaps this client is also certain about what symptoms are the result of a “chemical imbalance” and thus can be immediately treated with medication, not therapy. He may be willing to talk about some things in therapy, like his job or his marriage—but in terms of his anxiety, that’s what the pills are for.

Clients who struggle with PTSD, depression, and other stress-related conditions may have a tough time staying engaged in the consulting room. No matter how lively your approach may be, their minds are likely to wander.

It’s not within the standard protocol of talk therapy to tap on clients’ acupuncture points as they focus on a problem or goal. Even therapists convinced of the purported benefits of Energy Psychology may not know how best to present it to their clients without seeming too “out there.”

Want to instill hope in your depressed clients? According to Jim Gordon, author of Unstuck: Your Guide to the Seven Stage Journey out of Depression, you can start by reinforcing the idea that antidepressants aren’t always necessary for recovery.

Highly distressed couples seek out help for immediate solutions for their pain and suffering. Why is tackling the issues head-on a big mistake for a therapist?

If you’ve got a client who frequently oversleeps, binges on junk food and alcohol, and passes up fresh air for hours in front of the television, there’s a good chance these bad habits will hinder any progress you make in therapy sessions.

According to Dick Schwartz’s Internal Family Systems (IFS) model, all people have within them multiple “inner parts,” each with distinct emotions, beliefs, and roles adapted to help us cope with life’s challenges.