4: Getting started

As you saw in the work with John, we move through a process of assessment and 'workability analysis' in the early stage of intervention. This process is referred to as 'Creative Hopelessness' and it is one of the most challenging parts of the model for many therapists. We are actively and persistently walking into the stuckeness with our client to help them to contact the consequences of the things they have done to try and be rid of their problems. In so doing, we will likely encounter pain, frustration, disappointment and regret to name just a few. We want the client to be in touch with a feeling that 'the strategy I am using to control or get rid of this problem is not working and will be unlikely to work' - we wnt them to get hopeless about that strategy. We do this so that they will let go of responses (strategies) that don't work, to allow more creative, new strategies to be shaped.

It can be helpful in this stage to use a metaphor to illustrate how you are understanding the problem and what your work together will be about. There are many metaphors that serve this purpose of organising the work, in this lesson you will see david continuing to work with John and develop the Sailing Boat Metaphor.

This lesson's learning activities are:

ESSENTIAL: Watch this video of Intervention Strategies in ACT

ESSENTIAL: Watch this video of continuing the work with John

ESSENTIAL: Ask questions and provide your reflections in the comments below.