Psychotherapy with Woman in Midlife Crisis: Is She Motivated to Change?
- Jordanthecounselor
- 9 hours ago
- 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 analyzing another clinical breakdown from our deep dive into Tori Olds, Ph.D., focusing on a session with a woman navigating a midlife crisis and the essential first steps of assessing motivation.
There are three big themes present in this video:
Establishing the "Target Behavior" (The Goal) – Why master therapists always start by asking, "What do you want to work on today?" and how this question serves as the baseline for assessing a client's level of motivation.
Sidestepping the Self-Judgment Part – How to skillfully acknowledge a client's "inner stance" (feeling embarrassed or pathetic) and ask that part to "step aside" so you can explore the underlying distress without getting lost in the client's self-shame.
Permission and the "McDonald's" Analogy – Why you shouldn't dive into a clinical problem without the client's explicit permission, and how staying directive about finding a goal ensures you are working on what the client is actually motivated to change.
Watch the Breakdown
If you want to see exactly how to help a vague or self-dismissing client focus on their highest intention, 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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