Therapist Mistakes & Breakthroughs
Every therapist makes mistakes, from misread moments and misalliance to conflict avoidance. Therapeutic missteps are painful, but they can also offer profound opportunities for learning more about ourselves and our craft. The most transformative moments often emerge from the vulnerability and willingness to acknowledge when we don't have answers. Honest examination of what we consider our greatest failures can lead to our largest breakthroughs, deepening clinical wisdom in unexpected ways. These articles share candid stories of stuck moments, self-blame, stalled progress, and surprising breakthroughs. Learn more from seasoned clinicians about turning missteps into opportunities.
What happens to a buttoned-up young therapist when things get out of hand in his office? Read more
Studies show more people pay for the services of advisors claiming special powers than see mental health practitioners. How can mentalists and mediums be... Read more
An innovative way of working with people who are hypersensitive to criticism. Read more
How do you strike a balance between validation and empowerment in helping those afflicted with chronic resentment? Read more
Three clinicians share stories of challenging cases that show how the most surprising outcomes often have nothing to do with therapeutic brilliance or... Read more
Many well-intentioned therapists have suggested that their clients just “let go” of hate, as if it were a heavy load that they could simply drop to the... Read more
Bill talks about a proactive approach that can lead to positive developments when therapy starts to stall. Read more
K. Anders Ericsson’s work on deliberate practice and client feedback explains studies showing that most of us grow continually in confidence over the course... Read more
In this clip Stephen Gilligan talks about one of the techniques he employs to help new clients be more specific in setting their therapy goals. Read more
Diana Fosha uses an example from her own practice of how therapists can begin to catch incongruity Read more
When we’re spinning our wheels from one session to the next, the key to progress often lies in shifting the therapist-client relationship. Read more
When therapy gets stuck, here are key questions therapists can ask themselves to broaden their vision and open clients to new possibilities. Read more
A therapist uses a Hollywood analogy to help a client learn an important lesson about distinguishing behavior from identity. Read more
With stalemated cases in which the task of self-acceptance feels impossible, the therapist needs to offer more than compassion and encouragement. Read more
We need Big Moments to move clients out of their ruts, their numbness, and their stuck places. But the Big Moment needs many little moments to make it stick. Read more
Regularly using a few simple feedback measures—plus paying close attention to your failures—can make you a better therapist. Read more
Among the more curious findings of the therapy-research literature is the failure to show that experienced clinicians get any better results than novices... Read more
The practice of therapy, for both therapist and client, is transformed when we connect with our fundamental core, a process that involves learning to listen... Read more
Losing control of your story can be one of life's most terrifying experiences. Read more
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