Process-Focused Therapy: A Guide for Creating Effective Clinical Outcomes

Description

Process-Focused Therapy weaves together three key perspectives to help clinicians create a more effective therapeutic session: client problems as faulty process, the goal of therapy as changing such faulty process within the session and the art of shaping the session process for each client. Each practical chapter enables professionals to focus on bridging the gap between the client’s language (content) and the clinician’s language (process) and on the need to assess and shift this focus quickly within each session to create a new and productive therapeutic experience. The book starts with the concept of "how you do anything is how you do everything" and details tools that clinicians can use to identify a client’s "stuckpoints," (i.e. the faulty process that keeps clients from effectively solving their life problems). The reader is then provided with treatment maps for each of the most commonly presented stuckpoints, and guidance on how to present clients with a preliminary treatment plan. Next, the author explains techniques for building rapport, changing the emotional climate, staying in lockstep, and repairing breaks in the process and shows, through transcribed sessions, how to craft sessions to maximize their emotional and therapeutic impact. Finally, clinicians will learn how to apply these concepts and techniques to their established clinical model. With rich vignettes included throughout and end-of-chapter questions to invite the reader to reflect on their own practice and consolidate their knowledge of therapeutic processes, Process-Focused Therapy will be a valuable guide for both beginning and experienced therapists. Cover Half Title Endorsement Title Page Copyright Page Table of contents Chapter 1 Exploring Process How vs. What Life and Therapy as Process Overview of the Book Part I The Outer World Chapter 2 The Landscape of Faulty Process Being Adult Anxiety Coping Styles Anxiety Avoiders Anxiety Binders Anxiety Approachers Learning Problems vs. Problems about Learning Problems as Bad Solutions Stuckpoint #1: Unable to Tolerate Strong Emotions and Confrontation Personality Dynamics Consequences Assessment Stuckpoint #2: Difficulty Regulating Anxiety or Anger Personality Dynamics Consequences Assessment Stuckpoint #3: Unable to Tolerate Making and Accepting Mistakes Personality Dynamics Consequences Assessment Stuckpoint #4: Unable to Let Go of the Past Personality Dynamics Consequences Assessment Relationship Stuckpoint #1: Poor Communication Personality Dynamics Consequences Assessment Relationship Stuckpoint #2: Emotional Wounds Personality Dynamics Consequences Assessment Relationship Stuckpoint #3: Differing Visions Personality Dynamics Consequences Assessment References Chapter 3 Treatment Maps and First Session Structure Stuckpoint #1: Unable to Tolerate Strong Emotions and Confrontation Stuckpoint #2: Difficulty Regulating Anxiety or Anger Stuckpoint #3: Unable to Tolerate Making and Accepting Mistakes Stuckpoint #4: Unable to Let Go of the Past Relationship Stuckpoint #1: Poor Communication Relationship Stuckpoint #2: Emotional Wounds Relationship Stuckpoint #3: Differing Visions First Session Goals Create Rapport Define Presenting Problems and Client Expectations Assess Stuckpoints Change the Emotional Climate Present Your Initial Treatment Plan Counter Objections Summarize and Define the Next Steps First Session Logistics Think of the First Session in Thirds Watch the Clock Pre-Plan the Session References Part II The Inner World of Clinical Process Chapter 4 Pace and Lead The Ideal Session Build Connection Not Recreate the Problem in the Room Stay in Lockstep throughout the Session Repair Breaks in the Process Expand the Client’s World Techniques for Building a Connection Listening Eye Contact Leadership Expertise Self-Disclosure: Facts about You Match Body Position, Style of Speaking and Energy Level Dress Do Not Replicate the Problem Be Aware of Key Issues from the Start Look for Transference Cues Think Ideal Parent Think Adult Be Aware of Parallel Process Stay in Lockstep Yes-and vs. Yes-but Watch Non-Verbal Responses Copying Your Language, Talking More and Deepening of the Conversation Decoding Silences Statements vs. Questions Repairing Breaks Stop Ask Listen to What the Client Says Next Address the Objection/Shift Don’t Move Forward until Solidly Back in Step Expand the Client’s World References Chapter 5 Therapy as Performance Voice and Gestures Speeches Ideal Voice Special Events Guided Imagery Sculpting Empty Chair Technique Enactments Role-Playing Merging Treatment Maps and Process Goals Stuckpoint #1: Unable to Tolerate Strong Emotions and Confrontation What Are Our Overall Treatment Goals? Treatment Tasks: What Does Sam Need to Stop Doing? Treatment Tasks: What Does Sam Need to Do? Process Goals: What Do We Not Want to Do Within a Session that Would Replicate the Problem? What Do We Want to Create Within the Process? How Do We Do This? Special Events? Stuckpoint #2: Difficulty Regulating Anxiety and Anger What Are Our Overall Treatment Goals? Treatment Tasks: What Do Tom and Sara Need to Stop Doing? Treatment Tasks: What Do Tom and Sara Need to Do? Process Goals: What Do We Not Want to Do Within a Session That Would Replicate the Problem? What Do We Want to Create Within the Process? How Do We Do This? Special Events? Stuckpoint #3: Unable to Tolerate Making and Accepting Mistakes What Are Our Overall Treatment Goals? Treatment Tasks: What Do Tanya and Joel Need to Stop Doing? Tasks: What Do Tanya and Joel Need to Do? Process Goals: What Do We Not Want to Do Within a Session That Would Replicate the Problem? What Do We Want to Create Within the Process? How Do We Do This? Special Events? Stuckpoint #4: Unable to Let Go of the Past What Are Our Overall Treatment Goals? Treatment Tasks: What Do Amy and David Need to Stop Doing? Tasks: What Do Amy and David Need to Do? Process Goals: What Do We Not Want to Do Within a Session That Would Replicate the Problem? What Do We Want to Create Within the Process? How Do We Do This? Special Events? Relationship Stuckpoint #1: Poor Communication What Are Our Overall Treatment Goals? Treatment Tasks: What Do They Need to Stop Doing? Tasks: What Do They Need to Do? Process Goals: What Do We Not Want to Do Within a Session That Would Replicate the Problem? What Do We Want to Create Within the Process? How Do We Do This? Special Events? Relationship Stuckpoint #2: Emotional Wounds What Are Our Overall Treatment Goals? Treatment Tasks: What Do They Need to Stop Doing? Tasks: What Do They Need to Do? Process Goals: What Do We Not Want to Do Within a Session That Would Replicate the Problem? What Do We Want to Create Within the Process? How Do We Do This? Special Events? Relationship Stuckpoint #3: Differing Visions What Are Our Overall Treatment Goals? Treatment Tasks: What Do They Need to Stop Doing? Tasks: What Do They Need to Do? Process Goals: What Do We Not Want to Do Within a Session That Would Replicate the Problem? What Do We Want to Create Within the Process? How Do We Do This? Special Events? Chapter 6 Bringing It All Together: Individual Session Jim’s First Session Redux Jim’s Second Session Jim: A Summary Chapter 7 Bringing It All Together: Couple Session Jane and Henry Chapter 8 Applying Process Concepts and Techniques Challenge #1: Assessments Assessment Toolkit Challenge #2: Effectively Managing Sessions Problem Replication Staying in Lockstep Changing the Climate Watching the Clock Challenge #3: First Sessions First Session Toolkit Challenge #4: Crafting Sessions Crafting Sessions Toolkit Helping Students and Supervisees (and Yourself) Learn About Process Help Them Work Up Treatment Maps in Advance for Specific Problems Map Out Assessment Questions in Advance Help Them Think in Thirds for the Initial Sessions Help Them Break Down Large Goals into Smaller Ones Give Them Key Concepts That Provide Clinical Ballast Map Out in Advance Ways Not to Replicate the Problem and Be the Ideal Partner or Parent Help Them Define Their Own Emotional Wounds and Countertransference Issues Watch and Deconstruct Movies and Videos of Clinical Sessions Have Them Observe You or an Experienced Clinician in a Live Session Have Them Practice Skills Outside of Work Help Them Plan Special Events for Specific Sessions Give Them Tools for Changing the Emotional Climate Help Them Develop Their Voices Help Them Develop Speeches Help Them Tolerate Anxiety by Challenging Them in Supervision Use Parallel Process Index