Dangers of taking sides - getting into a battle with the patient

Taking sides has certain dangers - like getting into an interpersonal battle with the patient rather than facilitating an internal conflict. Ways to detect this and pivot are discussed. In addition, the importance of agreement on the therapeutic task is underscored.

[joybeamer]

The way you speak and create clear boundaries is so well done!

[eladchone]

Very helpful! Would love to hear you do a video on collusive alliances, how to identify and deal with them. I supervise several therapists who at the unset of our work would treat almost any patient behavior as "what the patient needs to go through in treatment". Would love to have a video of yours on collusive alliances to support dealing with that.

[toslso]

Hi Patricia, thanks for these videos! I’m trying to grasp the style of the ISTDP therapist. How much empathy/support is shown towards patients when they show their feelings. I know certain schools try to stay quite abstinent, but that doesn’t feel right to me. In schema therapy therapists are often very warm and caring and I was wondering if you could say a bit about that in ISTDP? Maybe a video on the topic.