ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author discusses a number of ideas that he have found influential in understanding how people can realistically change in psychotherapy. He describes the fact that clients have an experiencing self where their responses to adversities reside and an observing self where they can identify and reflect on the responses of the experiencing self. One of the most important tasks that a client has in psychotherapy is to ‘stand back’ and reflect on their experience so that they can understand the options available to them and then choose the one that is healthier for them. The purpose of emphasising the ideas of ‘standing back’ and ‘reflection’ is to encourage both the therapist and client to get into an objective frame of mind where they can discuss whatever needs to be discussed free from the distraction of strong feelings.
