Honoring Clients’ Preferences

One of the most important client extra-therapeutic factors therapists must attend to is, honoring clients’ preferences. Our belief is that all clients know what is best for them and as therapists we need to best meet their needs and wishes for what their visions are for the most ideal therapeutic experience. They should take the lead in determining their goals, who participates in sessions, the session format, how often we meet, letting us know what therapist style best suits them (action-oriented versus reflective/conversational), and so forth.  When we honor our clients’ preferences, it helps pave the way for therapeutic alliance building. For example, agreeing to see an adolescent who requests to be seen individually who has already had multiple negative family therapy experiences. The adolescent will feel validated and respected. With this clinical situation, we can still maintain a systemic focus seeing the adolescent and parents separately establishing separate goals and work projects. Often, once negative interactions and conflicts are greatly reduced or eliminated, adolescents are much more willing to participate in conjoint family therapy with their parents.

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