Learn Therapy Microskills: How to Deepen Experience and Stop Intellectualization
- Jordanthecounselor
- Mar 30
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 3
Welcome back to our series on psychotherapy microskills, where we use the science of Process Coding to analyze sessions from master therapists.
We're working with a demo session from Dr. Tori Olds.
There are three big themes present in this video regarding how to help clients access their inner world instead of just talking about it:
From Vague to Specific – When the client says she feels "not good," Tori recognizes this is too vague. Watch how she nudges the client to check her body, moving the client from a general external report to a specific internal sensation ("tense").
The Spotlight Effect – Why asking for more detail actually creates more detail. Just like your eyes adjusting to a dark room, the longer Tori asks the client to sit with the "tension," the more the client is able to see what lies beneath it (sadness).
The Myth of Catharsis – We often confuse "deep work" with big, dramatic tears. But as this video shows, true "experiencing" is simply the ability to connect your words to your present body sensation. Even a genuine "I don't know how I feel," said from a place of internal focus, is deeper work than a dramatic story told from a place of disconnection.
Watch the Breakdown
If you want to see exactly how to move a client from their head to their heart, watch the analysis below.
Listen here:
Jordan Harris Jordan Harris, Ph.D., LMFT-S, LPC-S, received his Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Louisiana Monroe. He is a licensed professional counselor and a licensed marriage and family therapist in the state of Arkansas, USA. In his clinical work, he enjoys working with couples. He also runs a blog on deliberate practice for therapists and counselors at Jordanthecounselor.com You can find him on linkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-harris-lpc-s-lmft-s-418412301/
Dr. Tori Olds Tori Olds, PHD is a licensed psychologist who has been studying experiential therapies for over twenty-five years. She specializes in the integration of experiential approaches to therapy and leads seven international training groups on this topic each week. She has a passion for translating complex psychology concepts for the public, which she does through her YouTube channel and other speaking engagements. toriolds.com/
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