ABSTRACT
This prologue introduces the idea that therapists are performing artists, and describes how that point of view is helpful for all clinicians. Like actors, as therapists our appearance, aura, voice, and relational responsiveness often leave stronger impressions on clients than the words we say or the techniques we use. Effective technique is less about what we do—less about reading a script by rote—and more about how we do it, how we use ourselves, how we perform our interventions. This chapter sets up the structure of the book, The Performing Art of Therapy—in terms of “preparation,” “rehearsal,” and “performance”—and explains how therapists can practice using themselves to improve their clinical performances.
