Jerome Hoffman, LMFT and Life Coach
My writing this is not intended as a “how to” of best practices, rather I am offering insights into the thought process of an actively working therapist. If there were nine other therapists writing this it is likely each of them would approach it differently; the joys of individuality but also it shows the importance of shopping around and finding a therapist that you mesh with. I hope to entertain (though little humor will be used because of the heaviness of the topics), to peek one’s curiosity, to provide some understanding of the therapeutic process for potential clients, and to shed a bit of light on therapy for those that are considering such a career.
Before we meet Brenda & Barry and see their foray into couple’s therapy, I want to look at two concepts that impact the assessment and healing process. These concepts come into play before or as the first words are spoken. The majority of therapy is now done through teletherapy. Telehealth can make both concepts a bit more challenging. The first, body language, is dependent on how the client frames themselves on the screen. Awkward angles or a poor signal can make assessing body language difficult. Thankfully with couple’s sessions there tends to be more evidence to follow. Is the couple on the same couch or a distance apart? Maybe they are even in different rooms on different devices. Are they leaning toward one another or leaning apart? Body language can be constantly assessed and monitored through all the sessions. Body language gives unspoken clues to the client’s emotional state, thoughts, health of the relationship and even the level of commitment and connection. These body language clues can be investigated at any time, but I would recommend waiting until the second concept is being nurtured. We will talk about this one next week.