Psychology

Non Directive Approach/ Client Centered Approach

Barbara Brodley, a master therapist and strong proponent of the client-centered

approach in the U.S., provides a session excerpt of one of her clients who initiated

homework in order to deal with alcohol use which had become a danger to his life

and his marriage (Brodley, in press):

Client: I’ve got to admit it, I get drunk and I’m a bastard to her. I’ve scared the kids.

(Pause 10 seconds.) I’ve got to stop drinking, I’m out of control and I’m killing myself.

Therapist: Mhm, hmm. It’s not only hurting your marriage, your children. You’re killing

yourself. You’re risking your life.

Client: Yeah, I’m really in danger (pause) and dangerous (pause). I need something besides this [he gestures, referring to the relationship]. I believe I’ll cut down or stop,

while we’re talking. (T: Mhm, hmm) But I lose resolve after a few days. Tension builds

up, I start drinking and I’m out of control.

Therapist: (Mhm, hmm) Talking like this isn’t enough to hold you. You loose control.

Client: Right. (Pause.) I got off cocaine. I stopped killing myself that way. But now I’ve

gotta put some brakes on the drinking! (Pause) I think I need a group, maybe AA, to

support me between sessions.

Therapist: Uhmmm. You need other people who are in this with you more than I can be;

others who can support you getting control.

Client: Yeah. I really do. (Pause) I should make some calls for an AA group. (Pause) I’m

not sure it’ll work for me ‘cause I don’t like their religion part. (Pause) I guess I’ll do

that. I’ll do that before I see you next.

Therapist: Mhm, hmm. You’ve got reservations, and you’re not sure it’ll help (pause) but

you want to try it at least. (C: Yeah) And you want to get to it right away because you

feel really desperate. (C: Yeah)

Brodley comments, “The client continues about the risks he takes and his remorse.

He starts the next session spontaneously reporting on the action he has taken to get a

group.”...