All in Monthly Group Topic
My goal for this month is that you are able to navigate the system which exists, including the system of assessing and diagnosing with the DSM. I also hope you’re able to critically think about it, know its flaws and shortcomings, and be able to discern when it’s a help or hindrance for your client.
Our work is incredibly vulnerable. With this comes the opportunity for connection and deep, meaningful healing (for ourselves and others); but it also can bring up old wounds, self-criticism/judging, the risk of emotional exposure and everything else. The antidote? Self-compassion.
You know, YOU have a huge effect on the outcomes your clients experience. Let’s look at the factors that put the odds in your favor, including figuring out who you work best with, and improving your own deliberate practice.
How do you learn about oppression, privilege and power? What are your go-to resources? I hope you’ll come to group ready to share at least a blurb from a favorite resource.
Congruence is often something that is socialized out of us starting in middle school (or sooner), and definitely in grad school. So it’s wonderful to know that practicing it makes us better at what we do, and make our client’s outcomes much more achievable. It’s an invitation, permission, to show up more fully as our selves as it relates to and serves the client.
What kind of atmosphere do you help create for your client? Let’s brush up on this together.
Two things I want to know: how do *you* define therapeutic alliance? And how do you measure the quality of alliance/relationship you have with each client?
What do you want for your clients? It’s so important to reflect on goal consensus, because it’s often where things can go awry, and also where alliance can quickly be built (or re-built).
How does your client explain their problem? How do they expect the work you do together will help? Let’s explore expectations together.
We’re digging in a bit more to understand our client’s identities and cultures, in order to more effectively adapt our approach.
We’re reviewing the three principles of self-compassion (according to Kristen Neff’s work) and discussing how to implement it for ourselves as professionals, and for our clients too.
Our client’s opinion on the therapeutic relationship is a better predictor of progress. Us knowing their opinion further increases the odds of positive outcomes. How do we get that crucial information in an effective way?
