I’ve been doing psychotherapy for quite some time, and I have 3 principles to guide me:

  1. I’m acutely aware that people come to me for all sorts of reasons, but not all of them are associated with getting better. As such, they may not really want to be helped. Yes, change of any sort is often greeted with resistance, but when my efforts are stonewalled or the client consistently doesn’t follow through, it’s time to talk. Sometimes it comes down to me stating: “I have nothing else for you.”

 

  1. I do my best therapy with every client. Issues and circumstances vary of course from person to person, but whether the client decides to accept and act on what I offer is a commentary on them, not me – particularly when I inquire as to how our work together is going and whether or not it’s working for them.

 

  1. I will not help anyone fail by supporting choices or decisions that are clearly not in his or her best interest.