Creative Technique: Containing the Concern until Later

Preparing for transition to life outside your office can be challenging after an intense session, especially one that has cycled from creation to meaning making all in one session. A client’s head may be spinning from the new connections they have made. They may be metaphorically gasping for air after a deep plunge. Therefore, you need to be skilled in facilitating that transition to leave at the end of an intense session.

First, begin transitioning early enough to allow time to walk the client through what it will be like on the other side of the office door. Five minutes is usually sufficient after the first time with a client, but the first time needs closer to 10 minutes. If you have not finished processing the creation or expressive responses, you might need to pause and start again by asking the client to recreate the creation in the next session. Notice anything that is different between the two.

Second, ground the client in the here and now. You might say something like,

As we begin to transition into you walking out that door, I want to make sure you are ready to do that. If you would, put both feet on the floor, sit up straight, and take a deep breath. I want you to notice something in this room. Notice the color and texture. Notice if has a temperature. Does it make any sounds? Now, take another deep breath. How are you right now in this moment?

Third, ask the client what he or she needs. Begin by asking clients what will happen right after they leave. Start with exiting your office and getting in their car (or walking to the next place) and find out what the rest of the day holds. Then ask, “Before you leave the office, what do you need or need to do?” For example, a client who has been crying may want to reapply her make up. Can she do that in your office or would she rather go to the restroom? If she needs some time alone, will she stay in her car, go for a walk, or go home? Most often, clients have a desire to withdraw and think (maybe writing or painting) after an intense session, but some clients may need to be around people. How will they make it happen?

Fourth, determine what happens after dark. Night time is when nightmares disturb sleep, loneliness gives empty hugs, and daytime coping strategies may fall flat. Ask about living conditions and what it will be like to be home tonight in light of what happened in the session. Differentiate strategies that give clients the ability to continue meaning making, with those that only offer escapism. Watching five hours of movies while stuffing emotions back down with food is clearly counterproductive to the work done. You want clients to learn to feel without becoming overwhelmed with emotions, but also accepting that they may not be ready to change all their unhealthy coping strategies immediately.

Finally, be attuned to any physical or emotional safety concerns. Clients may leave a session feeling raw, but they should also feel safe and cared for by the therapist. Wounds should not be exposed, and clients should be able to function at work, school or home after the session or arrange to be in a space where they can.

One client, who had experienced complex traumas, arranged her schedule to have the afternoon off after our sessions so she could have several hours alone before needing to be around others. During that time, she chose to write, listen to music, or take a nap before resuming her regular responsibilities. Together, we helped her decide what she needed and needed to avoid. She needed time to be creative, the opposite of her analytical work, and be alone to recharge her introverted self. She needed to avoid people, work demands and anything physically taxing. This helped lessen any fears around what would happen when the therapist was not around, too.