When attending graduate school for social work, I commonly heard the phrase “Meet your clients where they are at.” Derivatives of this expression are “Meet them where they are” and “Be where the client is.”
The saying suggests that instead of rigidly expecting clients to conform to a particular style offered by a psychotherapist (e.g., counselor) or other behavior health care provider (e.g., social worker), people working with those who seek help can malleably adjust the application of care to serve clients rather than serving the interests of clinicians who offer assistance.
As an example, a social worker may literally meet clients where they’re at by venturing out of the office and into areas in which unhoused individuals congregate. There, the social worker can offer an assortment of intervention strategies to help improve a client’s quality of life.
Similarly, a counselor who practices Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) with a client who doesn’t favor an active-directive approach to psychotherapy may temporarily assume a passive role while gently encouraging the individual to challenge discomfort with the process of disputation.
Regarding the latter, page 209 of The REBT Therapist’s Pocket Companion invites REBT practitioners to modify practice of REBT according to the verbal and intelligence levels of clients, which can be especially useful in Texas where English increasingly isn’t the first language of many people.
Meeting clients where they’re at is something I strive to do within my practice. Also, I adjust word usage within my blog to meet non-clients where they’re at so that psychoeducation about REBT techniques may be understandable and relatable.
Of course, I recognize how silly it is that I promote the phrase learned in grad school when contrasted by the fact that I solely provide teletherapy sessions with clients. I don’t literally meet any of my clients where they actually are.
Nevertheless, I hope to help improve the level of functioning and quality of life for everyone with whom I share REBT. If you’d like to know more about how I may meet you where you’re at, so that you can get better rather than merely feeling better, I’m here to help.
If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
Photo credit (edited), fair use
References:
Dryden, W. and Neenan, M. (2003). The REBT Therapist’s Pocket Companion. Albert Ellis Institute. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-rebt-therapists-pocket-companion-d185164652.html
Freepik. (n.d.). Top view diversity assortment with different colored paper hands [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/top-view-diversity-assortment-with-different-colored-paper-hands_9727880.htm#fromView=search&page=2&position=23&uuid=0f622df3-d2de-4a6b-af0c-d4a592e271e0
Hollings, D. (2024, June 14). An active-directive approach to behavioral health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/an-active-directive-approach-to-behavioral-health
Hollings, D. (2024, May 30). Behavioral health care. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/behavioral-health-care
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use
Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better
Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/
Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching
Hollings, D. (2024, April 22). On disputing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-disputing
Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings
Hollings, D. (2024, January 1). Psychoeducation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychoeducation
Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist
Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt
Hollings, D. (2024, January 4). Rigid vs. rigorous. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rigid-vs-rigorous
Hollings, D. (2022, June 20). Teletherapy. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/teletherapy
Hollings, D. (2024, January 16). Understanding, belief, and practice. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/understanding-belief-and-practice
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