83: Overcoming Therapist Traps: Avoiding the Righting Reflex and Unsolicited Advice

Heart-Centered Therapist: Elevating Practice in Mental Health, Relationships, Self-Care and Personal Growth

In this solo episode of the Heart-Centered Therapist Podcast, host Sindee Gozansky discusses two common traps therapists can fall into: the urge to fix clients' problems (the 'righting reflex') and advice-giving without permission.

Sindee explains how these tendencies, despite being well-intentioned, can hinder clients' autonomy, cause judgment and shame, create a power imbalance, and impact the therapeutic relationship. She offers practical strategies to resist these impulses, emphasizing empathy, validation, and seeking permission to create a more supportive and empowering environment for clients.

00:00 Introduction to the Episode 00:53 Understanding the Righting Reflex 03:26 Strategies to Resist the Righting Reflex 09:29 The Trap of Unsolicited Advice 15:12 Strategies to Avoid Unsolicited Advice 19:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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