what is growth and change in therapy?
"...the development of new awareness about one's internal experiences and interpersonal awareness processes is held to be an important indicator of client growth"
- Levitt & Williams, 2010
"A new awareness, or a difference in the way a problem is experienced compared to the beginning of therapy"
- Levitt & Williams, 2010
- Levitt & Williams, 2010
"A new awareness, or a difference in the way a problem is experienced compared to the beginning of therapy"
- Levitt & Williams, 2010
A study by Levitt and Williams (2010) asked eminent therapists to describe the process by which they facilitate change in psychotherapy. The theoretical orientations of the participating therapists varied, but included several from cognitive, humanistic, and feminist approaches. Two factors emerged as the keys to facilitating client change.
two key factors in client change
the basis for a model of practice
First, establishing safety in the client-counsellor relationship is necessary to facilitate the in-session risk taking that is essential to client change.
Second, developing client awareness by stimulating self-curiousity, encouraging emotionally engaged exploration, and challenging ideas that block growth, further facilitates change (Levitt & Williams, 2010).
These key factors provide the basis for a model of practice in counselling. Interventions are used with the intent of establishing safety and client self-awareness, and the chart below shows how this can be done within a Cogintive-Behavioural, Person-Centred, and Feminist/Systems therapeutic approach. While a client's goals will be specific to their unique situation, the counsellor's goal will be to help the client develop this new awareness, use it to achieve change, and facilitate the integration of new symbolism.
Second, developing client awareness by stimulating self-curiousity, encouraging emotionally engaged exploration, and challenging ideas that block growth, further facilitates change (Levitt & Williams, 2010).
These key factors provide the basis for a model of practice in counselling. Interventions are used with the intent of establishing safety and client self-awareness, and the chart below shows how this can be done within a Cogintive-Behavioural, Person-Centred, and Feminist/Systems therapeutic approach. While a client's goals will be specific to their unique situation, the counsellor's goal will be to help the client develop this new awareness, use it to achieve change, and facilitate the integration of new symbolism.
Key #1 - Safety in therapeutic alliance
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Key #2 - Developing new awareness
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Below is a page from one of my workbooks:
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References:
Levitt, H.M., & Williams, D.C. (2010). Facilitating client change: Principles based upon the experience of eminent psychotherapists. Psychotherapy Research, 20(3), 337-352. doi: 10.1080/10503300903476708
Levitt, H.M., & Williams, D.C. (2010). Facilitating client change: Principles based upon the experience of eminent psychotherapists. Psychotherapy Research, 20(3), 337-352. doi: 10.1080/10503300903476708