Four Systemic Steps for Addressing Anxiety with Therapy Clients

November 22, 2016 Ili Rivera Walter, PhD, LMFT

From a systems theory perspective, we, as individuals, exist within a network of relationships and relational interactions. It is within these relationships that problems occur and reside; it is also within these relationships that solutions are generated and maintained (Becvar, 1998).

A systemic approach for guiding clients through addressing, managing, and living well with anxiety takes into consideration not only clients’ relationships with themselves and significant others, but also their relationships with anxiety.

7 Questions for Opening Your Therapy Sessions

November 15, 2016 Ili Rivera Walter, PhD, LMFT

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It's easy to get stuck in a rut with specific elements of therapy structure.

I have a professor that sees every interaction with a client as part of the therapeutic relationship, and therefore, he interacts intentionally with his clients always, choosing his language and messages carefully based on their therapeutic value.

We don't all view our relationships with our clients in the same way, which means this type of scrutiny may not seem necessary to all of us; however, there is merit in evaluating the details of our sessions in order to become aware of habits that may not be yielding the results we desire.

For example, it’s common for opening questions to become casual greetings rather than relationally impactful interactions between therapist and client. Purposeful opening questions are the topic of this post.

5 Tips for Keeping Up with Therapy Paperwork

November 8, 2016 Ili Rivera Walter, PhD, LMFT

Five Tips for Keeping Up With Therapy Paperwork

In my interaction with therapists as a mentor and supervisor, I’ve learned that one of the main struggles therapists face is having too much work and not enough time. Many therapists find themselves overwhelmed by documentation responsibilities, in particular; this includes completing client notes, referrals, billing, treatment plans, etc.

In today’s post, I offer several strategies for keeping up with paperwork, so that you can stay on track and avoid the stress of falling behind.

Family of Origin Exploration for the Therapist: 3 Steps for How to Begin

November 1, 2016 Ili Rivera Walter, PhD, LMFT

Family of Origin Exploration for the Therapist: Three Steps for How to Begin

So far, I’ve covered why family of origin exploration is important for therapists, as well as the common fears that accompany facing our parents. If you haven’t read these first two articles, please read them before continuing.

In this post, I explain how to begin the process of family of origin (FOO) exploration.