People choose to attend therapy for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, they’re tired of living with anxiety or depression and need effective management techniques. Other times, they simply need someone to talk to. Some people don’t truly believe they “need” therapy, but it’s been suggested by family and friends. For the most part, you can count on many of your clients being easy to work with. They know you’re there to help them, and they’re willing to open up to you in order to get that help.
However, as the old saying goes, one bad apple can spoil the bunch. Not every client will be ideal, and you’ll undoubtedly have some who make your job difficult. They might even cause extra stress in your life and start impacting your own mental well-being. So, what can you do to deal with difficult clients? How can you manage to work with them and help them with their needs? Let’s cover a few tips.
Stay Calm
Clients can be difficult in different ways. Some might refuse to open up or share things with you. Others might be quick to get angry. Some might even start to yell or become unruly with their behavior. The worst thing you can do is let your own emotions escalate because of a client’s behavior. You don’t want to worsen the situation by reacting out of feeling.
Instead, do what you can to stay calm in every situation. Pay attention to the physical and emotional signs that you’re on edge, such as a racing heart or rapid breath. It’s okay to ask the client for a few minutes to calm down and regroup. You can also use mindfulness techniques to keep yourself focused on the present. Doing so will make it harder to get dragged into a difficult client’s negative behavior.
Validate Your Client’s Feelings
As difficult as it may be, try to show empathy even when your client is being difficult. By validating their feelings, they’re more likely to calm down quickly. When they feel like you understand what they’re trying to say, they are also more likely to open up and share important information. Try using phrases like “you’re upset with me because…” or “did I get that right?” It’s not always easy to swallow your pride, especially when empathizing with someone difficult. But it’s often the best way to diffuse a tense situation.
Seek Support
It’s important to remember that you’re not alone in your situation. Chances are, some of your peers have difficult clients to deal with, too. Consider asking them for advice or support. You might not be able to talk about specifics, but you can share that you’re struggling with certain clients and listen to what others in your industry do to manage their well-being. You might even want to start talking to a therapist if difficult clients have started impacting your mental health.
Stop Seeing That Client
As a therapist, your goal is always to help people in need. A difficult client might be struggling to really convey their issues. Their anger might be a mask for something deeper. Unfortunately, there’s only so much you should have to take. At the end of the day, you’re still a human being, and you deserve to be respected.
If you’ve tried the tips listed above and nothing seems to change your relationship with your difficult clients, it might be time to terminate the relationship. They might do better with a different therapist. Or, maybe they need a different treatment plan. You don’t need to compromise your own mental health to hold onto a client that won’t budge.
Reach out to me so you can learn how beneficial therapy for therapists truly can be - not only for yourself but for your clients as well.
