What to do When Clients Get in Their Own Way

The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy

What to do When Clients Get in Their Own Way

Curt and Katie chat about what therapy interfering behaviors (TIBs) are and how to address them in therapy. We explore the balance between reducing barriers for clients while also holding them accountable for their behavior. We also talk about how to identify if it is the therapist or the client engaging in a TIB.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

• What therapy interfering behaviors (TIBs) are and how TIBs show up in the therapy room.
• How to address TIBs in therapy (we may disagree a little here).
• The balance between reducing barriers for clients and holding them accountable.
• If you should still have session when a client shows up late.
• Using appropriate self-disclosure to address TIBs.
• Should you fire clients for TIBs?
• When therapists engage in TIBs.
• How to evaluate if it’s a client TIB or therapist TIB.
• Managing imposter syndrome when a client becomes hostile because the therapist cannot provide what the client wants.