You're struggling to empower a client in a session. How can you help them take ownership of their decisions?

Establishing rapport takes time, patience, and an open-hearted approach. Think of it as a delicate dance where you're slowly breaking down barriers and building bridges. Language plays a huge role here. Using soft, compassionate language shows clients that you're truly there for them

When struggling to empower a client during a session, focus on asking open-ended questions that prompt self-reflection and decision-making. Reflect and validate their feelings to build trust, and encourage them to set clear, actionable goals. By guiding them through options without making decisions for them, and celebrating their progress, you help clients take ownership of their choices and reinforce their commitment to their goals. This approach not only fosters their independence but also strengthens their overall growth and confidence. 🌟 #ClientEmpowerment #Coaching #ProfessionalDevelopment

Explore if they have any past conflicts that led them to particular behaviors and encourage reflection. Use questions that prompt the client to think deeply about their choices and whether their decisions align with their core values or long-term goals. Remind them of past instances where they made good decisions or overcame challenges. Break down the decision-making process into manageable steps and discuss potential outcomes so they can reflect on the possible impact while supporting their autonomy and respecting their choices. Foster a growth mindset and remind them that making mistakes is part of the learning process.

The basis of any change has to be a good therapeutic relationship and a safe space for self-exploration. It is important to be reflective in the process as a therapist and facilitate the root cause of ambivalence. Most clients when provided the necessary support and insight into their unhealthy patterns make positive steps towards initiating change. A collaborative approach with defined small goals may keep the client motivated

In my experience, a client’s ambivalence is often covering up a fear that they don’t want to think about. Tread lightly here so as not to scare them into deeper denial.

Acknowledging and addressing ambivalence in a session can actually be a powerful tool in empowering a client to take ownership of their decisions. By exploring the conflicting emotions or thoughts that the client is experiencing, we can guide them to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and the underlying reasons for their ambivalence. This process can help the client clarify their values, priorities, and goals, enabling them to make decisions that are more aligned with their true desires. Hence, encouraging the client to embrace and work through their ambivalence can lead to increased self-awareness, confidence, and a sense of control over their choices and actions.

Ambivalence can be the killer of change or the highlighter for the next chapter. We as the therapist get the opportunity to use ambivalence in every session. It’s a unique choice point in our client’s lives.

Acknowledge the client's mixed feelings without pushing for change. Use open-ended questions to discuss the pros and cons of their current behavior versus making a change. This helps them clarify their motivations and can naturally lead to increased self-awareness.

Help clients identify their intrinsic motivations by connecting their values and goals. Encourage them to visualize the positive outcomes of change, which can ignite a deeper commitment from within.

This approach is fantastic! Helping clients recognize their own intrinsic value will empower them to sustain their life and health goals in the long term. Instead of adopting someone else's beliefs, they will be following their own, which is key to lasting success.

Affirmations is powerful way to help your client feel accepted and take them away from their fear system and into their soothing system. (Paul Gilbert 2010). Affirmations (especially complex affirmations where you highlight personal traits and values and be explicit how those values or traits have showed itself in the actions of the client) have a profound impact on self efficacy. Research (Miller, Rollnick 2023) strongly suggest that affirmations (especially complex reflections) evokes and strengthens change talk. Change talk is strongly linked to behaviour change (measurable results up to 2 years after intervention).

Building self-efficacy is absolutely crucial in the therapeutic process because sometimes when we are going through a lot, we humans are wired for negativity bias, meaning we tend to focus on the negative and overlook our strengths. So when you, as a therapist, affirm and highlight a client's strengths, you're providing a valuable counterbalance

By acknowledging a client's strengths, they can become aware of their abilities. As a result, clients can make decisions with greater confidence. Since these decisions are their own, they can also take responsibility for the consequences.

Highlight past successes and resilience. By affirming their strengths, you boost their confidence in their ability to change, reinforcing their belief that they can take charge of their decisions.

I do this by pointing out a clients strengths. Sometimes another set of eyes helps see those strengths. It’s also important to recognize what a strength is. Coming to a first session is a strength. Reflecting, self dialogue, trying strategies, these are all strengths.

Encourage clients to explore solutions and make their own plans. By asking what they think would help them move forward, you empower them to take responsibility for their journey. Support them without dictating the path, which fosters a sense of ownership and independence.

Summarize their goals and collaboratively set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) objectives. This clear roadmap helps solidify their resolve and ensures that their commitment to change is actionable and sustainable.

To empower clients and foster decision-making ownership, focus on these key strategies: Encourage Self-Exploration: Use open-ended questions to help clients reflect on their goals and values. Highlight Strengths: Emphasize their past successes to build confidence. Provide Choices: Offer options to increase their sense of control. Set Collaborative Goals: Involve clients in setting realistic, meaningful goals. Support Problem-Solving: Guide them in finding their own solutions. Use Affirmations: Recognize and affirm their efforts and progress. Respect Autonomy: Allow them to make decisions, even if you have concerns. Explore Motivation: Use motivational interviewing to address ambivalence and boost motivation.