After
15 years of treating patients, it has come very clear to me that many
people come in to treatment thinking that the therapist is going to do
something to them to improve their life. This is not true. The
therapist can be a guide and a coach, and can help separate destructive
ways of operating from healthy ones, but ultimately it is the patient
him or herself who has to push into new frontiers of behavior and human
interaction. The following is taken from a book written by an expert
who has spent his life studying what it takes for patients, struggling
with whatever difficulties or diagnosis, to actually benefit from
therapeutic work, whether with medication or not. Please rate yourself
where you are at, and let me know the results when you come in to meet
with me.
The following questionaire is adapted from Fred J.
Hanna, PhD's book titled "Therapy With Difficult Clients: Using the
Precursors Model to Awaken Change"
1. Sense of necessity (Expresses desire for change-feels a sense of urgency)
2.
Ready for anxiety (Open to experiencing anxiety and determined to face
things that scare the patient--determined to function in different ways
than in the past)
3. Awareness (Able to identify problems with themself and can differentiate thoughts and feelings)
4. Confronting the problem (Courageously faces problems; sustained attention to issues
5.
Effort (Eagerly and persistently addresses difficulties and makes
changes both within and outside the session. High energy; active
cooperation)
6. Hope (Positive outlook; open to future; believe problem can be overcome)
7. Social support (Wide network of friends, family; willing to adapt to changes in the relationship;)
Add your total for each of the 7 items according to the scoring system at the top.
