ABSTRACT
A mirage is simply a manifestation of how a person wants things to be instead of how they really are. In dealing with the client’s distorted view of reality, the therapist uses a set of skills designed to dispute the client’s story. Confronting clients or client stories should never be a gotcha, but rather a way of enhancing the relationship and helping the client see inconsistencies. Therapy is a highly interactive process with feedback going back and forth from counselor to client. Great care must be taken when using skills and techniques that allow us to hold up the mirror for the client and help them see inaccuracies or errors in their stories. Along with a basic understanding of skills and techniques is also an understanding of the level of acumen needed to effectively and skillfully incorporate any one particular technique.
