ABSTRACT
The “tranquilizers” represent a group of paradoxical interventions that help to calm people whose behavior is getting in the way of solving their problems. Individuals in need of “tranquilizers” usually feel that their lives are “out of control” and that they can’t seem to calm themselves, nor can they see that what they are doing is generally causing more harm than good. For all of their “activity” (on the surface), the reality is that these people feel immobilized. Thus, the strategy behind tranquilizers is for these clients to be calmed, understood, soothed, and reassured (because they are presenting themselves as “upset”). The therapeutic task is to determine a way (or ways) to “tranquilize” such clients’ fears, anxiety levels, and so on without frightening them out of therapy! The therapist must remember that the energy that clients use to embroil family members, coworkers, and eventually the therapist into their issues is oftentimes a manifestation of ambivalence. The problem is that the clients’ “activity” is not helping but rather hurting them. If it continues, it will jeopardize the therapy. It is the same type of dysfunctional or immobilizing effort that keeps a client from more constructively dealing with their circumstances.
