The Therapeutic Relationship

Therapy

As a Therapist, What's Your Agenda?

Elizabeth Heaney MA, LPC on April 30, 2024

Personal Perspective: As a therapist, do you have an agenda for your clients? Are you nudging them to "make the right choice"? What impact might it have on their process?

Personal Perspective: As a therapist, do you have an agenda for your clients? Are you nudging them to "make the right choice"? What impact might it have on their process?

Relationships

Do You Want to Be Right... Or Do You Want to Be Close?

Elizabeth Heaney MA, LPC on February 20, 2024

The need to be right can obscure a sense of emotional connection—when we need to be right, we leave little room for another.

The need to be right can obscure a sense of emotional connection—when we need to be right, we leave little room for another.

Family Dynamics

The Emotional Complexity of Family Estrangement

Elizabeth Heaney MA, LPC on December 11, 2023

When we choose estrangement in reaction to unhealthy relationship patterns, we also need to face the contradicting emotions that can emerge.

When we choose estrangement in reaction to unhealthy relationship patterns, we also need to face the contradicting emotions that can emerge.

Family Dynamics

The Other Side of Estrangement

Elizabeth Heaney MA, LPC on November 10, 2023

When you're on the receiving end of someone's decision to be estranged from you, it's important to reckon with the underlying contributions to find meaning in the rupture.

When you're on the receiving end of someone's decision to be estranged from you, it's important to reckon with the underlying contributions to find meaning in the rupture.

Family Dynamics

3 Major Misconceptions About Family Estrangement

Elizabeth Heaney MA, LPC on October 17, 2023

Choosing to be estranged from one's family is a painful dilemma, and it's a choice therapists often discount or minimize.

Choosing to be estranged from one's family is a painful dilemma, and it's a choice therapists often discount or minimize.

Attachment

Balancing Attachment and Autonomy

Elizabeth Heaney MA, LPC on September 4, 2023

The concept of differentiation points to a beautiful balance between attachment and autonomy. If we focus on just one side of that polarity, we miss the inherent growth.

The concept of differentiation points to a beautiful balance between attachment and autonomy. If we focus on just one side of that polarity, we miss the inherent growth.

Therapy

When Therapy Stalls: The Questions to Ask

Elizabeth Heaney MA, LPC on August 9, 2023

What might be contributing to the lack of progress? Here are questions to help you explore that concern.

What might be contributing to the lack of progress? Here are questions to help you explore that concern.

Therapy

What to Do When Therapy Stalls

Elizabeth Heaney MA, LPC on July 24, 2023

Reckoning with moments when therapy seems to "stall," and paying attention to what's happening in those moments, offers us clues for how to address the lack of progress.

Reckoning with moments when therapy seems to "stall," and paying attention to what's happening in those moments, offers us clues for how to address the lack of progress.

Therapy

The Best Advice I Ever Got About Being a Therapist

Elizabeth Heaney MA, LPC on June 25, 2023

I was lucky to get some "North Star" guidance while still training as an intern. Forty years later, that advice is still shaping my work with clients.

I was lucky to get some "North Star" guidance while still training as an intern. Forty years later, that advice is still shaping my work with clients.

Trust

Establishing Trust

Elizabeth Heaney MA, LPC on April 9, 2023

How do you work with a client's mistrust? Being attuned to their wariness can help you support them more clearly.

How do you work with a client's mistrust? Being attuned to their wariness can help you support them more clearly.

Bipolar Disorder

Losing Home: Rediscovering a Sense of Self

Elizabeth Heaney MA, LPC on March 11, 2023

Clients often lose a clear sense of who they are. Rebuilding a strong sense of self is a crucial skill that we can help clients develop.

Clients often lose a clear sense of who they are. Rebuilding a strong sense of self is a crucial skill that we can help clients develop.

Therapy

Embracing Thresholds of Life Changes

Elizabeth Heaney MA, LPC on February 6, 2023

Learning to recognize and embrace the thresholds life puts before us can help us integrate life changes we face.

Learning to recognize and embrace the thresholds life puts before us can help us integrate life changes we face.

Career

The Crucial Work of Facing Suffering

Elizabeth Heaney MA, LPC on January 5, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Meeting a client's anguish can be daunting, but there's a way to teach yourself new skills and tolerance for this work.

A Personal Perspective: Meeting a client's anguish can be daunting, but there's a way to teach yourself new skills and tolerance for this work.

Family Dynamics

Therapy as Pilgrimage

Elizabeth Heaney MA, LPC on November 30, 2022

Personal Perspective: Have you ever thought of counseling as a pilgrimage? Thinking of it as a journey toward wholeness can enliven the process.

Personal Perspective: Have you ever thought of counseling as a pilgrimage? Thinking of it as a journey toward wholeness can enliven the process.

Humor

The Art of Matching Your Clients' Process

Elizabeth Heaney MA, LPC on November 12, 2022

How well are you noticing each client's distinctive way of processing? Attuning yourself to this aspect can enhance and deepen your work.

How well are you noticing each client's distinctive way of processing? Attuning yourself to this aspect can enhance and deepen your work.