In this clinical psychology episode of the podcast, you'll hear about What Your Client Can Do To Help Their Psychotherapy?
This psychology podcast episode has been sponsored by Clinical Psychology by Connor Whiteley. Available on all major eBook and audiobook retailers and you can get the paperback and hardback copies from Amazon or your local bookstore.
What Can Your Client Do To Help Their Psychotherapy?
This episode is designed for people who are and aren't Clinical psychologists.
So, a lot of people might be thinking a therapist shouldn't need help to deliver therapy to a client or mental health sufferer. But as I talk about in my books unless a person wants to change then psychotherapy is useless because therapy is all about the relationship between the Client and therapist.
Therefore, there are a number of things your client can do to help their therapy be successful.
That's the focus of this episode.
Understand the Rules
Firstly, whether you're in therapy or you're a clinical psychologist. You need to make sure the client understands the rules. For example, payment schedule, the boundaries of the professional relationship, how confidentiality works and lots more.
This is important because it allows the client to know how therapy works and what they can and can't do. Knowing this helps to prevent bad situations later.
Be Honest
In psychotherapy, honesty is critical because the therapist needs to know what's happening and they need to know various pieces of information. Of course, depending on the psychological model they use.
Like, a psychoanalyst would focus more on the cognitive unconscious and childhood. Whereas a cognitive behavioural therapist would want to know about your thinking patterns and cognition.
Overall, it is so important for Clinical psychologists to develop a rapport with their clients and encourage them to be honest. And it's critical for the client to be honest with the therapist so they can help you the best they possibly can.
Be Open
Leading on from the last point, clients need to be open with their therapists too. For example, telling them when something is wrong, they don't think the therapy is working or they're going to have problems paying for the therapy.
These types of concerns need to raised so solutions can be created.
For Clinical psychologists, this means being kind and approachable as well as making sure the client knows they can talk to you.
For the client, this means finding a therapist in the first place that you feel comfortable with.
And we all have these difficulties at some point so don't feel ashamed.
Apply What You've Learnt In Psychotherapy
During a client’s therapy sessions, they will learn things. For example, how to cope in a certain situation, a number of better and good coping mechanisms, patterns of behaviours or thoughts they need to watch out for and more.
But all of this is useless if the client doesn’t use anything they’re learnt in therapy.
Therefore, it is critical for clinical psychologists to get their clients or patients to understand the importance of practising and applying what they’ve learnt in their lives outside of therapy.
Then to clients and other people in therapy, it’s up to you to use what you’ve learnt. Since if you apply this knowledge to your life then it should improve.
Do The Homework
Following on from the last point, one method that clinical psychologists use to get to their clients to apply their knowledge in their personal lives is to give them homework.
Another benefit of this homework is a clinical psychologist can use it to start a series of habit forming behaviours that get the client to apply their knowledge automatically. And as psychotherapy can take several months, this time frame gives the psychologist a lot of time to get this habit to form.
This homework is optional because my clinical psychology lecturer was terrible at setting homework but as I mention in my Clinical Psychology book, setting homework depends on the therapeutic model used as well.
In my opinion from all research into clinical psychology and therapy I’ve done, I strongly believe a clinical psychologist should set homework if they want to. Since you can only deal
with so many difficulties and develop so many skills in a session.
Equally, I strongly believe a client should do the homework if it’s given to them. As the therapist is giving them the homework for their own benefit and it should help.
What Can Your Client Do To Help Their Psychotherapy? Wrap Up
Overall, I really hope you’ve enjoyed this psychology podcast episode.
If you want to learn more and support the podcast, please check out:
Clinical Psychology. Available on all major eBook and audiobook retailers and you can get the paperback and hardback copies from Amazon or your local bookstore.
Have a great day!
Psychology Reference
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-recovery-coach/202105/10-ways-help-your-therapist-help-you-more
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