Tasks of a psychotherapist

People think that the work in psychotherapy ends at the session. This is far from true. The session is only a catalyst for the process of change, which lasts throughout the week between sessions. In order for the client to work out what was discussed at the meeting, I give clients exercises to take home.

Research shows that the client's compliance with the therapist's instructions helps accelerate change. Homework also enhances therapy.

This could be work on analyzing past relationships, a book or article that needs to be read, it could be keeping notes or a diary on a given topic.

Written tasks are usually more effective because they allow you to structure the client’s thoughts and feelings.

Individual tasks are selected for each client, depending on his situation and request.

Clients sometimes have different attitudes towards such tasks. Some people are very motivated and ask about homework at the end of each session, while others don’t do them at all.

If a person is not ready to spend time at home on the goals that he has set for himself, this means that he does not take the therapy process seriously and is not ready to pay with effort for changes.

As a rule, those who write down and follow the recommendations achieve good progress in therapy.

The more a person trusts a specialist, the better results he will achieve by simply following his recommendations without resistance.

Other clients are constantly looking for excuses and justifications for why they didn’t have the time or desire to do their homework.

Of course, it happens that a person really wanted to, but it really didn’t work out due to various circumstances. As a rule, if a person wants, he finds time for what is his priority.

After all, if a person reads an interesting book or watches a movie, he will have time at night because he really wants it. “No time” most often means “no desire.”

A psychotherapist’s homework is not schoolwork.

Often these are simple exercises that do not require much time or effort. At the stage when I give them, I usually clarify with the client whether he understands, and whether it will be feasible for him in the time frame in which we work.

If it really turned out to be difficult to implement, then clients send questions, ask about how to do it correctly, try to understand it, figure it out. Such clients usually have good results.

There was a client - a guy who earned little and who did not have the money to go to meetings once a week. The case was quite complex and confusing. I assumed that therapy would take several months.

However, he was incredibly motivated. I gave him exercises which he methodically performed for a month and when the money came in he came to the sessions.

In just a few sessions his problem completely went away, which was unexpected. I think that the key success factor in his situation was his methodical dedication to finally changing his life for the better. He achieved his goal.

His review is on the website.

Often we don’t have time to work on some techniques during the session, so I give them to work on independently at home. I tell in detail what exactly needs to be done in the task, and the client tells me whether he understood what needs to be done correctly.

There was a case when a client was experiencing a breakup with a guy with whom she had an unhealthy dependent relationship. And she was very resistant to doing her homework. But then she thanked me because she finally decided to try it and the technique worked. When I asked how they realized that the technique was a success, she said that she broke through, and she started crying and finally let go of the guy inside and closed this relationship.

How psychotherapists give tasks

Before setting a task, the specialist takes into account the client’s internal state and the resources he currently has.

If the symptoms are acute, then it is advisable to give simple tasks of a resource nature. It is very important that the client copes with it and experiences the joy of a successfully completed job. At the same time, I make allowances for circumstances that may interfere with the completion of tasks. The tasks need to be achievable.

Like the goal, it should be very specific according to the SMART model. Measurable, achievable, clear and time bound. For example, “write a list of 20 positive qualities about you for the next session,” rather than just “write down what is good about you.” Sometimes it is useful to discuss together during the session examples of what homework implementation might look like, and to think together about ways to overcome possible difficulties.

The psychotherapist also writes tasks for himself, about what needs to be prepared for the next session and what material to understand.

Example of homework assignment for a psychotherapist

20.10.2020

to yourself.

1. view session records

2. see quotes on the topic of “shame”

to the client.

1. Count how many times the word “should” comes up in your thoughts or conversations with people during the day.

2. Write the number in your diary at the end of the day and do so until the next session

3. If the number of thoughts with the word should increases, do not blame yourself

4. Bring to the next session 10.28.2020

Usually each session begins with a test and ends with a new homework assignment.

Checking completion serves as an additional social incentive for the client and allows you to understand how simple and clear the instructions were.

Perhaps the client considers the psychotherapist’s tasks too simple or, on the contrary, too difficult and believes that he will not be able to cope with them.

The psychotherapist must recognize this in time and correct negative expectations and conclusions if the homework does not work out.

It is important to explain that even the attempt to do homework is already a success, and the process of doing it and the experiences associated with it are no less important than the result.

If the client doesn't even try, he may be misunderstanding the importance of homework to the success of therapy.

Psychological difficulties when performing a psychotherapist's task

Below I will list the difficulties that a client may encounter while doing homework.

1. Student Syndrome

Ideally, the task should be completed over the course of a week, the execution itself, the result and the experiences associated with it should be meaningful, this requires time. If the task is completed at the last moment before the consultation, it will be of much less use.

2. The client forgets the meaning of the task

If you don’t write down what the task is and don’t give feedback during the session, so that the therapist can correct it if necessary, then you can do something completely different from what is needed, and thus the meaning will be lost. Therefore, it is advisable to carry a notepad or notebook with you during the session where homework and useful thoughts and insights are written down.

3. Problems with organization

You need to use tools that help you structure your time and plan. These can be either phone applications or calendars, or paper post-it (notes) in visible places. You can keep track of your progress daily and reward yourself for your achievements. There are many ideas for planning time on the Internet.

4. Psychological difficulties.

Negative predictions are typical for depressed clients. In order to overcome such a psychological difficulty, it is important to remember the moment when the client was about to complete the task, but therefore changed his mind. It is important to understand what he thought and felt at that moment.

You can make a list of the advantages and disadvantages of doing homework.

It may be necessary to choose a special time for performance and discuss this with the therapist. This happens when the client is already hesitant and anticipates difficulties associated with time for this task.

There are clients who are prone to perfectionism. This is often the reason for refusal to carry out the psychotherapist’s tasks. The client believes that homework needs to be done “either perfectly” or “not at all.” It is important to understand that errors, blots, syntax and punctuation do not matter.

The main thing is the process of working on yourself, trying. Whatever they are, they will definitely help the development of awareness, self-reflection, and therefore the success of therapy.

I hope now you better understand what a psychotherapist’s tasks are and can worry less about it.

I will be happy to help you as a psychotherapist online or in person in Kyiv. To schedule a consultation, click the button below.

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