Keep in mind that harmony in the therapeutic partnership is more important to outcomes than ambivalence.

Reflection is significantly more effective than skill training for the silent client. It may be important to slow the pace of therapy in order to match the current needs of the client. The client’s silence may indicate that they are in contemplation or even pre-contemplation. Understanding that the approach used with a client in contemplation is very different than the approach used with a client in action removes the pressure from the therapist to push for change. It’s important to always keep the stages of change (see below for description of the Stages of Change) in your mind as a therapist. In Part Two, I present two additional strategies in working with a silent client.īecoming comfortable with reflective silence through providing reflections and affirmations can help the therapist to escape a narrow definition of success as verbal engagement and active change. Second, to get comfortable with reflective silence through the use of gentle reflections and affirmations. The unconditional positive regard as part of that alliance is the most important indicator of the client’s success in therapy. First, to believe in the strength of therapeutic alliance to reduce the therapist’s insecurities. In Part I of “When a Client is Silent during Therapy, I proposed the idea of reframing the silence as a symptom of ambivalence instead of resistance and discussed two strategies for addressing the silence and ambivalence. One of the most challenging situations for a therapist is how to work with a client who is silent during sessions.

The quiet patient