Whose Story Is It?

Dr. David Kruegar from Mentorpath, http://www.mentorpath.com/, writes about how individuals create their own plots and storylines from their beliefs and assumptions that they hold. These belief systems and assumptions are developed from their needs and ideals that people have build over time. I am beginning to understand more why some clients choose to terminate early and/or choose not to show up again after a few counseling sessions. It can be simply that their goals for counseling based upon their individual belief systems are not in mesh with how the therapy process works in mental health counseling.

What can be the client's story?

For example, some clients are motivated to attend counseling and medication appointments just to apply for SSI (Social Security to avoid going to work. They have learned through talking with others that if their child or themselves are feeling a certain way or behaving differently, they can act accordingly to fool their therapist into thinking they can earn their SSI check. Their possible beliefs are that they are entitled to get SSI because it is owed to them due to welfare reform that resulted in certain work requirements, and receiving only one check given to them no matter how many children they have.

What is our story?

Clinicians, have created our own stories based upon our training to treat our clients' s symptoms. We have expectations on how the therapy process should be and what is reimbursable by insurance companies. Is it possible that some clinicians can be duped into believing that their clients are truly experiencing their symptoms and want to learn new coping skills using diverse treatment modalities? In some cases, clients are smarter in creating their stories based upon their needs to support their children or themselves the "easy way", and living their ideal way"to have their cake and eat it too." As a consequence, once clients get their SSI check plus retroactive pay (after appealing their SSI denial over time), they are never again to be seen as "they disappear into the blue yonder" of the universe.

What can be done to change our story to retain our clients to be motivated to work on their goals? Answer: Part II will be posted soon.

Robbin Miller, LMHC
Facilitator
www.therapistsforchange.blogspot.com