ABSTRACT
During the pre-session contact the therapist may ask the client about people whom they know personally or by reputation who might serve as a role model. This may help in two ways in SST: as a person to emulate and as someone who might support the client. While a role model whom a client chooses to emulate is often a well-known figure, usually not known personally to client, supportive model is usually someone known to the client and is someone admired by the client who is perceived to 'have the client's back', meaning someone for whom the client's welfare is paramount. This is often a family member such as a parent, grandparent or sibling. The client might be encouraged to ask the person directly for support or may imagine the person supporting them in their mind's eye. If a client has both types of role model 'in their corner', then this is often a powerful and positive force for change.
