Psychotherapy with Busy Mom: Is This Client Motivated?
- Jordanthecounselor
- Jun 22
- 2 min read
Learn Therapy Microskills
Welcome back to our series on therapy microskills, where we analyze sessions from master therapists to teach you their skills.
Today, we are looking at the skill of motivation in counseling, using a clip from Dr. Tori Olds as she works with a busy mom.
There are three big themes present in this video:
The Four Stages of Motivation – Understanding the difference between Resistance, Sustain, Ambivalence, and Action, and how each stage dictates a completely different clinical requirement for the therapist.
Attunement as the Goal of Resistance – Why the only valid objective when a client is saying "no" is to stop pushing for change and pivot entirely toward attuning with the client's current experience.
Avoiding the "Premature Solution" Trap – Why jumping to interventions like medication or meditation before a clear goal emerges is often a mistake, and why exploring the inner world is the best way to let a goal naturally surface.
Watch the Breakdown
If you want to see exactly how to assess a client's stage of change and avoid jumping to conclusions, watch the full 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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