![\"GoodTherapy](\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-1316668394-1-300x200.jpg\" "\\"GoodTherapy")
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by Megan Paterson, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist<\/a> in Roseville, California<\/p>\n Ever had a client who keeps booking appointments and coming in faithfully, but you can\u2019t figure out why? You know, the type of client that makes you wonder, \u201cWhat are we even doing here?\u201d All of your suggestions, re-directs, and reframes just seem to float in the room and out the window to Neverland. This client seems to be in the exact same stuck place week after week.<\/p>\n If you find this frustrating, you\u2019re not alone. As a clinical supervisor<\/a>, I often hear about how therapists feel \u201cstuck;\u201d as a therapist myself, I have been here as well. What do you do in this situation?<\/p>\n Go back to the basics! What is the presenting problem? What brought this client into therapy in the first place? Every client who seeks therapy makes that initial call to you for a reason, seeking a change. Keep this reason in mind and bring it up in session. This sounds basic, but it\u2019s so helpful to return to in treatment because it is how we measure progress. Ask questions to remind the client, why did he\/she\/they seek services in the first place? What is the change they are looking to experience?<\/p>\n After re-visiting the \u201cpresenting problem,\u201d you should double-check the diagnosis<\/a>. Ask your client what symptoms they are experiencing, giving particular attention to what might validate or undermine your current diagnosis. Reconsider what treatment goals and methods you can develop and implement based on the diagnosis.<\/p>\n I have always found going back to \u201cpresenting problem\u201d and \u201cdiagnosis\u201d to be useful when I notice that \u201cstuck in session\u201d mode reoccurring. It helps me focus, and it allows clients to participate in their own wellness plan. It holds clients accountable for their work with you; you are not his\/her\/their \u201cfriend\u201d and this is good boundary to always re-visit without having to straight out say it.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve clarified the presenting problem and the diagnosis based on the client\u2019s symptoms, here are few questions to ask yourself to help resolve this \u201cstuckness\u201d for both your client and yourself:<\/p>\n Remember, if the client is not meeting a diagnosis, then they do not meet \u201cmedical necessity\u201d for therapy. This is a good thing to communicate to your client. They might not need therapy! Termination is a good thing<\/a>; celebrate this phase of therapy!<\/p>\n If they aren\u2019t ready to finish their therapeutic work, but you come to realize that you can no longer help them, you have other options that further their interest! Don\u2019t be afraid to refer out or provide \u201cnatural supports\u201d options. Help them connect with friends, family, and community supports.<\/p>\n If your client pays you and books another session, something is probably working even when you mentally label a session as \u201cstuck.\u201d Therefore, pay attention what keeps this person coming back.<\/p>\n You are offering a service, meeting a need for this client, maybe even when you feel like you don\u2019t. Creating space, modeling containment, hearing clients \u00a0\u2014 these are powerful services. The energy in a session can change, especially when it is clear to the client that they are heard and they are safe. Provide safety, build trust, say less, and you will see change in your \u201cstuck\u201d sessions and in your work with your clients. Let go of judgment, get curious about this \u201cstuck\u201d feeling in session, ask questions about \u201cstuckness<\/a>\u201d \u2014 and see what unfolds. Sometimes, when you call the elephant out in the room, it gives you something to talk about.<\/p>\n by Megan Paterson, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Roseville, California 5 Tips for Helping a Client When You?re Both Stuck Ever had a client who keeps booking appointments and coming in faithfully, but you can?t figure out why? You know, the type of client that makes you wonder, ?What are we even doing here?? […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3168,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[542,1899,626,529,623,159],"tags":[579,1975,1973,1974],"class_list":["post-41773","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-featured-articles","category-for-therapists","category-for-therapists-by-therapist","category-good-therapy-announcements","category-issues-treated","category-therapy-news","tag-for-therapists","tag-helping-clients","tag-stuck","tag-stuckness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41773","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3168"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41773"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41773\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41773"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41773"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41773"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}5 Tips for Helping a Client When You\u2019re Both Stuck<\/h1>\n
1. Go Back: What Do They Want?<\/h2>\n
2. Double-Check: Is the Diagnosis Right?<\/h2>\n
3. Consider: Mull Over These Questions<\/h2>\n
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4. Ask: Is the Client Ready to \u201cGraduate?\u201d<\/h2>\n
5. Stay Curious: Reconsider the Value You Bring<\/h2>\n
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