When to Disclose the Client's Hidden Goal

Nam,

Utilizing the Dreikurs method of "guessing and confronting," as soon as possible in therapy, may seem to save time; however, confronting clients with guesses about their hidden goals before they are ready or open may actually be a waste of time. Premature disclosure, especially if presented too bluntly, might be very painful; it could inhibit the client's willingness to accept and use the insight.

Client receptivity depends on several therapeutic accomplishments prior to interpretation: establishing a cooperative working relationship; expressing empathy; communicating understanding; generating hope; and providing encouragement. Initially, the therapist only uses the client’s hidden goal as a guideline to promote new client movements in a more positive direction. After the client has moved in this direction, and built a series of successes, more confidence, and new courage, he is then able and willing to look back at and evaluate his old, underlying goal. At this point, he is more likely to accept the therapist's interpretation and use the insight for deeper change. This process tasks take time and cannot be rushed.

The hidden goal is only one part of a complete picture that may need to be gradually unfolded to the client. The therapist must also be prepared to show the interrelatedness of the inferiority feelings, childhood prototype, style of life, fictional goal, purposive symptoms and emotions, private logic, and scheme of apperception. For the client to recognize his own experience, a precise, convincing portrait must be drawn. How and why this goal was originally formed may need to be explained.

Classical Adlerian psychotherapy is an art, and must be practiced creatively and patiently, with sensitive diplomacy. The uniqueness of each client should be mirrored with a unique treatment strategy that would suggest how and when to offer interpretation. It takes several years of case supervision from an expert therapist to learn this skill. Any attempt to systematize therapy into a fast by the numbers procedure turns it into a dry technology.

Replies:

Dr. Dreikurs' &lllaos;guessing&lllaos;, by Ronald E. Allen, 1/2/97 Dreikurs' Theoretical Position, by Henry Stein, 1/5/97 Please Help Me With Dreikurs, by Stacey Mathieson, 9/30/97 Untitled, by Rob McGarva, 9/30/97 Thankyou Rob McGarva, by Stacey Mathieson, 10/5/97 Re: Adlerian Psychology in the Classroom, by Henry Stein, 10/3/97 Additional Adlerian Resources for Educators, by Henry Stein, 10/4/97 With Many Thanks, Dr. Stein, by Stacey Mathieson, 10/5/97 Re:Please Help Me With Dreikurs, by Sherry Ittner, 10/25/00 Too much, too soon; another factor?, by Dan Bollinger, 9/21/98

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