Demonstrations of Therapeutic Techniques

Bringing the principles of theory and practice to life is a challenging task. Although we have a fully articulated theory, a general blueprint for therapeutic progress, and a variety of techniques to stimulate cognitive, affective, and behavioral change, the actual experience of CADP is rooted in the mystery of the creative process. We invent a different experience for each client, matching his uniqueness with our customized inventions for encouraging positive, socially useful change. Consequently, we have no "by the numbers" procedures that we repeat; however, beneath our improvisations lies an underlying structure that can always be explained after the fact.

Part One contains a series of transcribed demonstrations of my work with student-therapists addressing real, personal issues; and with clients who volunteered for instructional purposes. In each instance, I made a reasonable attempt to illustrate a specific therapeutic technique. This part includes demonstrations of the Socratic Method, the Missing Developmental Experience (MDE), Eidetic Imagery, and role-playing, followed by debriefing with the audience.

Part Two consists of a series of role-played demonstrations with a student who plays a client she knows well, one whom we had discussed frequently. I attempt to give the flavor of the different stages of CADP, followed by debriefing with the audience after each stage. In a fictional format, we compress the potential progress of psychotherapy into a "twelve-act play."

Part Three provides a transcription of my work with a real client of one of my students, who agreed to have the session with me recorded for instructional purposes (with her identity disguised, of course). The student and I had discussed the case many times, so I was familiar with the client's difficulties and history. Process notes accompany this transcription.