When dealing with the manic mind it is very important to understand and realize that it sometimes does not think in terms most would comprehend.
It can be very moody, indecisive and looking for guidance not just a yes man. Often that is why many fail to continue with therapy because the therapist is either unable to provide any guidance that makes sense to the manic mind or is just a yes man saying what they think the client wants to hear.
Many times the therapist is working on their next great article or case study about something and is distracted by the “note taking” instead of the person in front of them forgetting that the client is there to learn better ways to deal with the day to day issues that affect their disease and the responses that it can cause in their responses throughout their lives.
Many times the client wants to come in and deal with a recent issue and is rebuffed by the therapist because they have their own agenda or think that what is recent may not matter to the client in the future. Nothing could be often further from the truth.
How is the client expected to learn from the mistakes and deal with issues more effectively if they are unable to discuss what is relevant to them? After all they are the client and there for help in this type of issue are they not?
Why are some therapists afraid to let the client guide to some extent his/her own therapy? While reaching the existing goals most therapists set at the onset of treatment can the clients not get there with a more localized approach? Dealing with the relevant issues of today may affect how they act tomorrow isn’t that true?
Following the assessed guidelines will not work with every client, some need both structure and latitude with their own therapy in order to both grow and change. Who is the therapy actually for otherwise?
Is it not in the best interest of the clients to allow them some leeway into the problems that affect their daily lives? Is this not why they are coming to learn to deal and cope with their lives and disease? They are asking for help to deal with these problems which have in the past been an issue and they often get rebuffed in the process for asking, why?
Ignore the book learned ideas and reach your client in the best way possible to help them be better people. Not make your next clinical paper more appealing.