ABSTRACT
Perspective taking can be used as a method to increase flexibility in regard to the conceptualised self, or a conceptualised past/future. Such conceptualisations are not problematic in them but can become so if responded to as literal truths. As much as rigidity provides a coherent or safe story, the downside is that it becomes much harder to access potentially useful information or perspectives that fall outside of our conceptualisations. Part of a functional analysis will be to clarify where the client’s deficits lie and how this interferes with valued action. For example, if a client struggles to take the perspective of their traumatised younger self and, as a result, is unable to make sense of current trauma cues, it may be helpful to encourage continuity across these perspectives. There are three main areas where practitioners can promote flexible perspective and these are interpersonal, temporal, and spatial.
