After seeing a client session after session, week after week, it’s a good possibility that the therapy will come to a point where it feels like progress has stalled. It’s not necessarily the fault of the therapist or the client, but it is a situation that isn’t doing either of them any good. So what’s to be done?
According to Bill Doherty, the solution is to address the therapy’s progress before it becomes an issue. Don’t wait until you get bored, and don’t wait until drastic action seems to be the only option; act as soon as you sense that a client’s progress is leveling off or slipping backwards.
In this video clip, Bill talks about a proactive approach that can lead to positive developments when therapy starts to stall.
Rich Simon
Richard Simon, PhD, founded Psychotherapy Networker and served as the editor for more than 40 years. He received every major magazine industry honor, including the National Magazine Award. Rich passed away November 2020, and we honor his memory and contributions to the field every day.
William Doherty
William Doherty, PhD, is professor of family social science and director of the Minnesota Couples on the Brink Project at the University of Minnesota. He’s the author of the forthcoming book, The Ethical Lives of Clients: Transcending Self-Interest in Psychotherapy.
