Part 2: What Makes a Great Therapist? The Tori Olds Series
- Jordanthecounselor
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Welcome back to our series, What Makes a Great Therapist?
In part one we introduced the "Monday Morning Problem"—the gap between learning a theory on Friday and actually doing it on Monday. We’re bridging that gap by using Process Coding to analyze real sessions from master therapists frame-by-frame.
Today, we are continuing our deep dive into the work of Tori Olds, Ph.D., analyzing a demo session where she works with a client processing a traumatic assault.
This session is a masterclass in experiential therapy, and in this breakdown, we uncover three specific micro-skills that allow her to take a client from a vague sense of "not good" to a profound emotional release in just minutes.
Here are a few things to pay attention to.
One of the biggest traps for therapists is staying in the "there and then." Clients often come in talking about external events or vague feelings.
In this clip, the client starts by saying she feels "not good." A mediocre therapist might ask, "Why do you feel not good?" (inviting intellectualization) or "Tell me more about the assault" (inviting re-traumatization).
Tori does something different. She immediately pivots to the present, internal, and specific.
Vague: "I feel not good."
Specific: "Where is that in your body? Is it a tight ball? Is it a straight jacket?"
By guiding the client to locate the tension physically, she bypasses the storytelling brain and accesses the emotional brain. This is the "Experiencing" lens of process coding in action.
Have you ever asked a client to do something—like "notice your chest"—and they looked at you like you were crazy?
That’s a failure of Persuasion. Clients need to know why we are asking them to do strange things.
In this video, we watch Tori give a brilliant (if slightly long-winded!) rationale. She explains that the tension is like a "straight jacket" protecting the feeling. She isn't just telling the client what to do; she is selling the value of the intervention.
The takeaway: Don't just give directives. Sell the method. If the client understands the mechanism, their compliance and buy-in skyrocket.
This is my favorite moment in the analysis. As the client approaches a big wave of sadness, Tori pauses and asks:
"If you need to pause at any point, we can always go somewhere else. Is it okay to let them come?"
I call this Seeding Autonomy.
For trauma survivors, loss of control is the core wound. By explicitly giving the client control—the right to stop—Tori paradoxically makes it safe for the client to go deeper.
It’s a psychological judo move: By saying "You don't have to do this," the client essentially says, "I choose to do this." It confirms they are in the Action Stage of Change and creates a powerful container of safety.
A Note on the "Easy" Client
As we watch this, it’s important to note: This client is what we call an "Action Stage" client. She is bought in, cooperative, and ready to work.
Not every Monday morning client will be like this. If you try these moves with a client in the "Sustain" stage (who doesn't think they have a problem), you might hit a wall. But for a client who is ready, Tori’s roadmap is flawless.
Watch the Full Breakdown
Ready to see these micro-skills in action? Watch the full analysis below to see exactly how Tori navigates these delicate moments
Check out the video here:
Listen here:
Best,
Jordan (the counselor)
Jordan Harris Ph.D, LMFT-s, LPC-s, is a specialist in what makes a master therapist. He regularly offers trainings teaching this skills of master therapists. You can learn more about Dr. Harris's trainings 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
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