Edge of the Couch Working with Clients who Thrive on Drama
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Nov 5, 2025 Explore the intriguing world of clients who thrive on drama. Discover how these individuals often use storytelling and other people's narratives to sidestep their own issues. Learn to distinguish between genuine crises and patterned drama that creates emotional chaos. Dive into the gendered dynamics of gossip and how they fuel connections. Gain practical skills like delaying reactions to emotional texts and recognizing patterns across relationships. Finally, challenge misconceptions about passionate relationships and the role of healthy boundaries.
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Engagement Can Mask Avoidance
- Clients who 'thrive on drama' often present as highly engaged and entertaining in session.
- That engagement can mask avoidance of their own issues and create a barrier to steady therapeutic work.
Inserting Yourself Adds Fuel
- Clients often insert themselves into other people's conflicts and become the 'fuel' for escalation.
- That impulse gives them excitement, purpose, and a sense of power even when it's unhelpful.
Delay Reactivity To Create Choice
- Try delaying impulsive responses to emotional texts or events to create spaciousness and choice.
- Use time (an hour, a day) to reflect so actions come from intention, not knee-jerk reactivity.
