Need Direction? Ask Your Client

Here’s a common scenario from supervision.?

An early career psychologist describes an initial consult with a complex client. We talk through the referral, the client's history, and any risks or pressing concerns. Then they ask the million-dollar question -? “What should I do?”.

The complexity of the presentation has got them stuck. And I know I could jump in with some version of “Try this…”, but I prefer to ask a seemingly simple question.

“What does the client want?”

Often, they struggle to produce a clear answer for this and the referral, which said "Mixed anxiety and depression", isn't much help.

I’ve got no judgement for a moment like this because I’ve been there so many times myself. Who can honestly say they've never felt overwhelmed by a complex presentation? We've all known the unsettling feeling of not knowing where we're headed with a client. And lacking direction can make us feel like figuring it out falls completely on our shoulders.

Now, some of that is true, we do need to figure it out. But here's the good news - we don't do that alone. Our work is a two-way street. It requires a relationship with our clients and like any good relationship, communication is key.

So if you're stuck, struggling to figure out where you're headed with a complex presentation, remember to consult the most important person in the room - your client. They will be one of your most consistent sources of clarity.