Metapsychological therapy

There are many ways to work as a psychologist. There are perhaps more than 10 regular, recognized methods. Dynamic, Analytical, Existential, Systemic, Narrative and Cognitive to name but a few. What characterizes them across the methods? Over time, I have met a number of them as a supervisee, student and client. For me, there is a common thread among psychologists that I have enjoyed talking to and learning from. They listen, they agree, they care, they persevere and they challenge your ideas to an appropriate degree. If I were toPut it together, I would say: Pay Attention, Keep Up, Hold On, Hold Off, and Challenge.

Listen up As a psychologist, listen to what the client says. Be curious and appreciative of the client's perspective. Like the systemic founders of the Milan School, investigate how something works? Be aware of your own preconceptions or hypotheses and put them on the shelf, abandon them. Abandon them if they don't work. Keep up with the client in their dreams and understandings. The client wants something. What is she/he motivated for? Use the same language as the client. Stay rhetorically close to the client. Examine how the language is coherent and meaningful to the client. Examine how it works for the client. Is it okay, or does the client want something else? If you're lucky, the client's hopes and dreams will show up here. Hang in there; Have patience with the client. The worse people function, the more patience you need as a psychologist. It's hard to do something different than people usually do. What they do often helps with something. Like Bo Møhl, who has described how self-harmers get relief from psychological pain. Hold on: Many methods recommend a so-called "befriending", a friendly, welcoming attitude from the psychologist, where you put yourself on the client's side. Especially in therapy with psychotic clients. Perhaps because many of them react very quickly. Go for the client's perspective, find the good intention. Peter Lang investigated why the father in an abusive family hit with an open hand instead of a fist and came up with a desire for something different. A new style was created. Challenge the client's ideas when they are interested in hearing other considerations. I like Cecchin's ideas on Irreverence. Question the client's truths. I like a caring, slightly teasing style. One of my mentors, Allan Holmgren, suggested being like the fool in the old fairy tales. The only one who could challenge the king's ideas. It must be done with feeling. Ask the client for permission before you do it.

These were some of my thoughts on how to work as a psychologist. Thanks for reading along 🙂