Dealing effectively with trauma from a problem-solving brief therapy (PSBT) perspective involves addressing the immediate impact of trauma while focusing on practical solutions and building resilience. In this piece we’d like to address how you do this effectively while prioritizing yourself to avoid burnout.
The PSBT is always ‘accused’ of not considering people’s feelings during the process of therapy. The fact that we don’t jump into openly asking about feelings or don’t emphasize them, by no means implies that they are less important to us. After all, the goal of our therapy is to encourage people to act differently so that they can feel better. A change will not endure if it does not make the person seeking help, feel better. We just start by focusing on actions.
Karin recently conducted a workshop with a colleague who works from a different model of therapy. One that starts by making people feel good in therapy so that, when they are relaxed, they can start to look at the situation from a different point of view. Both therapists interviewed the same ‘client’. While not addressing feelings directly, our approach of listening carefully, paying attention to what is important to the person who is opening themselves to us and utilizing their language to make them feel heard, led to the interviewee getting to painful events in their life much faster than the interview being led by the therapist emphasizing feelings more openly.
It goes without saying that, when working with trauma, opening the possibility of a person expressing their pain as soon as possible in an environment of respect and active listening, is of the utmost importance. As therapists, our commitment to supporting others on their journey towards healing and self-discovery is deeply fulfilling. However, amidst the demands of our profession, it’s essential to prioritize our own well-being to prevent burnout from overshadowing our lives and careers. It is critical in your therapy practice to explore practical tips and strategies to empower yourself in maintaining balance, managing challenges, and finding joy in the work. At the Brief Therapy Center, we aim to train our therapists to preserve and promote their own well-being when working with clients. When we promote our own sense of agency and limits, we are communicating an important value to our clients about personal power and how we communicate our agreements in life.
Make the most of Solution Focused therapy by aligning with the Client’s Pace
“We don’t work harder than our clients.” While at first this might seem like a loaded statement, it means that we move at the pace of our client and when dealing with complex trauma, sometimes even slower. This mantra serves as a powerful reminder to align our efforts with the client’s priorities and match where they are at with their investment, needs and approach to change. Rather than imposing our agenda, we must respect the client’s autonomy and focus on what they deem important. We are taught at school that, with trauma, we need to dig deep, make sure as many angles are covered and cannot move from there for a long time. While this might be the case in some cases, others might come to us because the trauma is preventing them from doing something in the here and now that they feel is important to them. We start with and continually bring our attention back to listening to what the client is asking for almost every time. Even in situations in which they have suffered intense trauma. Since a memory is changed every time is it recounted, by honoring the client’s agency and working collaboratively, you can cultivate a therapeutic alliance built on a shared goal and mutual respect. That breakthrough will still come for the client and it will come through them instead of through the imposition of the therapist.
How to stay focused when the client confuses you or sends mixed messages
In therapy, contradictions between what clients say and do can offer valuable opportunities to help the client clarify and what it important to them, and what might be getting in the way of the change they want. There are ways to skillfully acknowledge and explore these contradictions. Ask probing and exploratory questions to highlight the contradiction and explore what the client thinks about it. By steering the client into the driver’s seat, therapists can facilitate deeper self-awareness and promote growth. When we bring observations to light in a non-judgmental manner, we encourage clients to explore their experiences more fully, helping them gain meaningful insights and make good progress. This is different than taking a passive stance or asking for explanations of the ambiguity. We assume the client is doing their best and has a good reason for the mixed messages and we convey this in our curiosity. We also then put our observations on the table in a one-down stance where we are not necessarily sure of our observations, but none the less curious about what the client makes of it. This again, allows us to move at the pace of the client instead of imposing our assumptions. If our curiosity persists we find different ways of asking and probing the mixed messages until we figure out if and how it is a problem to the client and whether or not they want to work on it. While it takes a while to figure out a ‘curiosity style in therapy’, it allows for a more relaxed session on the part of the therapist: if the client is not willing/able to work at a given point, the therapist does not need to ‘make up the difference’.
We become patient with the client and, in so doing, with ourselves. It becomes an organic way of having a conversation with someone who is in pain, without having to feel the same pain or be dragged down by the difficult situation your client is bringing up. As therapists, we are human: we go home with our own challenges and there is no need to ‘take your client home’. Another important component of self care for the therapist is being able to talk about our difficult cases with a colleague or do regular supervision. This is a topic for another blog.
Setting Clear, Achievable Goals: A Roadmap for Success
Setting clear, achievable goals with clients is essential for guiding the therapeutic process and measuring progress. Leave space to collaboratively define tangible indicators of change, and check in on those markers. The client gets a roadmap for their journey and you get to help them see their own successes. It helps both parties to recognize change when it has occurred. If there are no clear goals, how do you recognize that you have arrived? This clarity not only enhances motivation but also empowers clients to take ownership of their growth and celebrate their achievements.
Encountering “slippery” clients who veer off track or deflect from meaningful exploration is a common challenge in therapy. To address this pattern, therapists can steer the conversation back to the client’s goals and intentions, redirecting attention to the present moment. “I’m confused. You started about talking about what happened in your childhood and we are now talking about your children. Are those two related and I just must be patient? I am only curious” Skillful interventions, such as reflective questioning or summarization, can help reestablish focus and momentum, ensuring that sessions remain productive and aligned with the client’s needs. Other concrete examples of how a therapist can accomplish this are: “How does this relate to what we were focusing on”, or “okay, I can see it is tempting to be distracted by xyz…” or “is this something you would rather work on or need to work on firs?. You seem to bring it up frequently”.
Being a good therapist often means being a good interrupter! By respectfully and assertively addressing distractions or barriers to progress, you can create space for meaningful exploration and change. Set boundaries and redirect conversations, when necessary, not only to enhance the effectiveness of therapy but also to clearly reassure the client of your commitment to supporting their growth and well-being. In so doing, you are taking care of yourself because you are not carrying the whole burden of therapy.
To learn more on this topic, take a look at our other related blog
Sustaining Passion Through Self-Care
At the end of the day, prioritizing your own well-being will not only prevent you from getting frustrated, it will also help you show up for your clients better and with more empathy. Sustaining your passion is key to continuing to work meaningfully, and establishing strategies like these will help keep that passion alive. By embracing strategies that set clear boundaries, we can cultivate resilience, prevent burnout, and foster meaningful connections with your clients. As we all continue to navigate the challenges and rewards of our profession, let us remember to nurture ourselves with the same compassion and care that we offer to others.
Pace yourself with your own goals, be patient and kind BUT firm when you get distracted and keep coming back to your big picture vision of why you are in this role. Also, when a low period comes- don’t beat yourself up… it is part of every process to have ups and downs.
If you want to learn more about this, don’t miss our workshop. CLICK HERE!
We are different because we teach by focusing on the practical applications, not just theory. Our specialty trainings utilize real cases and high engagement with our trainers. We have specialized trainings of real cases and dynamics with our teachers.