The Whole Therapist Withholding: Are You Colluding with Avoidance?
Aug 13, 2024
Abby and Kellee dive deep into the theme of withholding in therapy. They tackle the complexities behind withholding EMDR and the truth from clients, questioning if it stems from genuine clinical reasoning or therapist fear. The hosts emphasize recognizing nervous system cues and avoiding collusion with client avoidance. Practical strategies are shared to keep sessions on track, and the importance of being direct, especially with parents, is highlighted. Courage is championed as essential for fostering real progress in therapy.
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Withholding Often Masks Therapist Fear
- Therapists sometimes withhold EMDR or other interventions not for clinical reasons but from fear or insecurity.
- Naming that avoidance prevents colluding with clients' avoidance and opens therapeutic opportunity.
Name Avoidance And Recheck Plans
- Check your own nervous system when clients start talking around agreed plans and name the shift aloud.
- Ask directly if the plan changed and offer an option to stay with the original target for therapeutic benefit.
Fear Of Sandtray After Limited Personal Work
- Abby shared that lacking her own sandtray work made her fear offering it and she would avoid initiating exploration.
- That avoidance increased her anxiety and postponed helpful interventions for clients.