How do you identify demanding clients in counseling?
A demanding client will normally believe that the counsellor will provide answers to his/her problems. They will come to counselling without much resolve to act upon their current situation, and will normally create very unrealistic expectations regarding the counselling relationship and the counsellor.
Therapy is much more difficult with coerced, reluctant, or challenging clients. These are typically clients who are not necessarily ready to make a change in their life, but have been forced to do so by the court system, the child welfare system, or their spouse or significant other.
Therapists do get frustrated with clients from time to time, but some can handle difficult clients better than others. This may be due to training or inherent personality traits.
However, as with any career, there are challenges as a licensed mental health counselor along the way. ... The following five represent some of the most common.
Clients who have had a difficult, neglectful or abusive past may find trusting others very difficult and have issues around attachment. The therapist may need to offer a reparative (or re-parenting) relationship, as described by Petruska Clarkson as part of her five-relationship model.
Normalize and validate the response. Compassionately state that crying is a normal reaction. Let the client know explicitly that it's okay to cry; there's no need to hold back the tears. If offering a tissue box, it's often useful to say, “Please don't try to hold those tears back.
Why can't therapists be friends with their clients?
Client-therapist friendships can be unethical, according to codes of ethics from many bodies that govern therapists, including the American Psychological Association [APA]. By becoming friends with a client, a therapist can risk disciplinary action from governing bodies or losing licensure.
Although therapists might not like to admit it, there are times when you don't click with particular clients—or worse, you just don't like them. Perhaps the person is overly critical or negative, or you find your personalities are not a good match.
There are many reasons a client may not show up for a session, from simple disorganization to legitimate emergencies. Clients may even no-show to avoid dealing with a difficult issue you're working on in therapy. Understanding the cause of the no-show for each client will impact how you deal with them.
Whether or not you've personally witnessed a therapist cry, it's a fairly common occurrence. In a 2013 study, almost three-quarters of psychologists admitted they've shed tears during a session. Some patients might appreciate the display of compassion.
Some therapists establish stronger bonds and connections with particular clients than others. For example, a therapist may be drawn to people with complex trauma histories and enjoy working with them.
How do you tell a potential client you can't work with them?
Give a reason, but don't go into detail.
Justifications and excuses can make it look as though you're not telling the whole truth. State your point concisely and professionally. Be clear, and leave no room for interpretation. If the client presses for more information, try to keep your answer brief.
