Not all clients/tangata whai ora get what they come to see a specialist for during therapy and counseling in the same way. Let's just say that there are successful clients, but not very good ones. Of course, success is not about life, career, etc., but about the process of obtaining the desired result within the framework of work with a specialist. Naturally, the group of successful people is usually satisfied with their results than the other group.
I have already said several times that in therapy and counseling the role of a specialist is to show where to dig and suggest possible tools for this work. The client's task is to start by discussing the results with the counsellor. It may not be possible to say how the responsibility of the counsellor and the client is distributed. Sometimes a successful and efficient client succeeds with the most hopeless therapist, and sometimes the most hopeless client comes out of life's difficulties in the hands of a skilled specialist. However, without the client at least doing something will not work out.
A "successful client" is not a biological species, but a person with a certain behavior. Such "success" is not an innate quality. I want to describe some characteristics and behavior of such clients. The observations are mine, so there will be no references. Perhaps this information will help someone to make their work with a therapist more effective.
So, "successful clients"
- They're being active during counseling. Ask questions and express their opinions.
- Are not afraid to challenge the opinion of the therapist, to supplement and reformulate. Nobody reads other people's thoughts, including psychologists, psychiatrists and psychotherapists. Feedback is very important in the consultation process, and not in the 10th session, but directly when there are some inconsistencies in the understanding of the client's problem.
- They take responsibility for themselves as soon as they start therapy. I.e. without preliminary runs and "control shots" to the counsellor (I will tell him now and see how he reacts). Responsibility includes not only following the recommendations, but also stopping consultations at the initiative of the client if he feels that something is going wrong, and taking certain independent steps on the results of the consultation.
- Outside of therapy, they actively read and research the topics of the last session and work independently on their own understanding of the problem. Usually they come to the next session not only with their homework, but also with their own work, which greatly improves the dynamics of therapy. Some of them make charts, tables, analysis of results and estates in their lives after the session. Accordingly, they have certain questions, topics and areas of work that are very useful for good consultation dynamics.
- They are not afraid to experience unpleasant feelings from negative emotions in the process of therapy. Yes, not all things and events in life are pleasant to remember, but often they are the stones of anticipation on the way to solving the problem. However, at the same time, they do not rush to the "embrasure". They dose the volume, which can be overpowered for a specific period of time.
- They are tuned to search for a positive and constructive in their new state. In general, what did I get during consultations? Is there really nothing at all? Life changes around, new information appears, how it changes my life for the better, how can I use it in my life? Even if something goes wrong, the maximum possible benefit is still squeezed out of this "wrong".