Therapist Demonstrates Motivation/Persuasion Microskills with a Woman in Midlife Crisis
- Jordanthecounselor
- 22 hours ago
- 2 min read
Learn Therapy Microskills: The Art of Ethical Persuasion
Welcome back to our series, Learn Therapy Microskills, where we use the science of Process Coding to analyze sessions from master therapists.
Today, we are analyzing Part 2 of our deep dive into Tori Olds, Ph.D.
There are three big themes present in this video regarding how to motivate clients and ethically persuade them to try something new:
Body Language as Persuasion – Persuasion isn't just about words. Watch how Dr. Olds mirrors the client's hand gestures (holding the "tight ball" of tension) to unconsciously signal, "I am with you," creating the safety needed for the client to follow her lead.
The "Persuasive Rationale" – Clients often resist because they don't understand why we're asking them to do something. Dr. Olds motivates the client to stay with uncomfortable tension by offering a clear, compelling explanation: "Tension is like a straight jacket around a feeling."
Timing is Everything – The difference between a lecture (psychoeducation) and an intervention is timing. Dr. Olds waits for the "charged moment"—when the feeling is live in the room—to offer her explanation, ensuring it lands as a lifeline rather than a lesson.
Watch the Breakdown
If you want to see exactly how to use ethical persuasion to help a client get unstuck, 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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