Be wary of the phenomenon of "false recovery" in psychological counseling

Is your mental illness really cured? Are you sure? Or do you just think it is cured? Be wary of the following The phenomenon of "pseudo-healing" in psychological counseling is brought to you by me, and I hope it will be helpful to you.

1. What is the phenomenon of "pseudo-healing"

Real recovery is to go through a long-term growth process, repair the inner trauma, and continue to recover in reality. After the tempering, the stable state (the world of mortals tempers the heart), and after the inner personality is rebuilt, the natural charm and fragrant taste do not need too many words to express, it comes naturally.

"Pseudo recovery" refers to the process of psychological counseling, often through one or several consultations, and sometimes after consultation for a long time, when you are unable to go on and encounter internal resistance. It occurs, sometimes with severe "positive transference".

This phenomenon is usually marked by the sudden disappearance and improvement of symptoms of the client. The client has not repaired the inner trauma and subconscious energy, and shows "I have already" in speech and behavior. "I feel better", "as if I have suddenly changed into a different person", such as the original pain and entanglement suddenly disappeared, and I became very sensible, optimistic and positive, such as suddenly knowing how to deal with interpersonal relationships, this phenomenon is more common It is shown in front of the counselor. Sometimes there are not many changes in real life, but a psychological illusion.

"Thank you so much. You are really a spiritual master. You cured me in just one consultation!"

"Your unique insights and perspectives have given me great help. Enlightenment, I got better immediately. "

"I am so lucky to have met you. I am much better now, and everyone says I am better. Consultation, I don’t have any problems now, overall I feel very happy and energetic, but... (the voice is intentionally very low and cannot be heard clearly)"

The phenomenon of false recovery during consultation It is very common. If you are not vigilant and the counselor cannot have insight, problems can easily arise.

2. Analysis of the potential causes of the pseudo-healing phenomenon

The phenomenon of pseudo-healing is not a separate problem, but a problem of relationship and empathy. Both the client and the counselor are involved. It plays a corresponding role inside.

1. The client satisfies the counselor’s potential expectations

Generally, it is easier to adopt the counseling orientation of quick and short-term therapy. The client is keenly aware of the counselor’s influence on the counseling effect. Expectation satisfies the counselor's subconscious inner need of "hoping the client to get better soon" to prove that the counselor is very powerful and competent. This method is very good. Even though he clearly knows that his problem has not been solved, he pretends to cooperate with the counselor. The treatment plan shows the expected counseling effect and is presented to the counselor through pseudo-recovery.

2. The client cannot break away from the counselor and can escape through false recovery

The counselor’s ability is not enough to deal with the client’s problems. This is related to the counselor’s own growth depth and related to level. Especially for counselors who have not studied psychoanalysis and who have not received enough self-growth and integration, the issues of transference and counter-transference in the counseling relationship have not been adequately dealt with and taken seriously, and the relationship between the two parties has become entangled. , the discussion of the problem cannot be continued or deepened. The client has formed a psychological dependence on the counselor. At the same time, he feels that the consultation is ineffective. The client cannot directly express his dissatisfaction and thoughts of leaving, so he has to go through "pseudo recovery". The method is to satisfy the consultant, and then use this excuse to break away from the consultation relationship and find a new consultant for consultation.

3. The implicit response between the narcissism of the client and the counselor

The counselor’s own growth level will limit the consultation process and time. The narcissism of counselors has always been a hurdle in psychological counseling. Counselors without self-awareness will often portray themselves as omnipotent and authoritative gods, thinking that they are omnipotent and can handle any client, as long as they use me A unique method, wrap it up! Counselors can't stand frustration and failure, and use it to cover up their inner incompetence and inferiority. They will wrap themselves up with more powerful narcissism to protect themselves and maintain their authority and "dominance", so during consultation When encountering resistance and confusion during the process, some powerful methods will be used to reverse the negative emotions and behaviors displayed by the client, such as hypnosis, behavioral therapy, reality transformation methods, etc., so that the client does not get enough. Companionship, emotions and feelings cannot truly flow out. Some clients will experience the counselor's anxiety and fear, and feel the counselor's narcissism. In order to satisfy the counselor's narcissism, they will release "pseudo-healing" intentionally or unintentionally. "The information is used to appease the consultant, satisfy the needs of this part of the consultant, and make the consultant happy. Invisibly, a kind of consulting game is achieved: "Hello - I am good", you are a good consultant, and I am interested in You are satisfied. I am satisfied that you are a good visitor.

4. Good children become good visitors, reenacting the game pattern of the original family

The original family of the visitor is the kind of good child who must be well-behaved and sensible. Be kind to others, don't trouble others, don't embarrass others, you have to be a good child, let everyone like you, let everyone be satisfied with you. In interpersonal relationships, you look at other people's faces for fear that others will dislike you, for fear that others will have opinions about you, for fear that others will not like you.

"No matter whether you are comfortable or not, you must first make others comfortable."

In the counseling relationship, the client will project this part onto the counselor , try hard to play the role of a good client and make the counselor like you: I am very good, I follow your method, it is very effective, I am very obedient, you will like me!

The client strives to be a good child and a good client, hoping to be the counselor's "best client", very cooperative and obedient, and looking forward to good comments and praise from the counselor.

This makes the consulting relationship no longer a consulting relationship, but a performance stage for good children.

3. False recovery is a sign of transference. How should counselors deal with it?

When false recovery occurs, counselors need to be vigilant, like a big soft The container contains the presentation of all this. Face this problem with the client, use this clue, and slowly explore deeper. What problems does the consultant have here, and what parts of the client are there? Let’s explore this node together. It will lead to a breakthrough in consulting relationships and consulting.

1. False healing is the re-suppression of trauma

The client comforts the counselor through false healing and re-suppresses his own trauma, because the counselor does not allow this part to come out. Just like the way my parents treated me back then: you have to be obedient, you have to be sensible, you can't have your own true feelings, your expressions are not respected, you can't talk back, you can't cry, you can't be angry, just do it. There is a lot of suppressed and hidden emotions and energy inside, which cannot be expressed and flowed freely in the consulting room, so the client will express it through pseudo-healing.

When the client presents this part, the counselor needs to be aware of it in time. Through clarification and explanation, the client can gently feel that the counselor has realized this point, and then slowly focus on this point. Go deep slowly.

2. The counselor’s awareness of narcissism

Psychoanalysis is to pull others off the altar and pull yourself off the altar. It is easier to deauthorize externally, but it is difficult to deauthorize internally, because narcissism will increase with the level of growth, and narcissism will go up to a higher level at each stage, so it is even more difficult to be aware of it.

Counselors need stable narcissism, but inflated narcissism requires careful chewing of the reverse formation of inner trauma contained in it. It is best for counselors to find a suitable counselor. Self-Growth.

Be aware of the expectation of "I am a good counselor", accompany your own anxiety and incompetence, realize the limitations of counselors, take your time, and take your time.

3. Growth is a long process and cannot be achieved overnight.

Psychological growth is a long march of thousands of miles. Don’t expect to achieve it at the speed of a hundred-meter sprint.

The formation of everyone’s psychological problems does not happen overnight. It is not possible to freeze three feet in one day, so it will be very difficult to face. Seemingly simple problems are actually filled with intense emotions and energy. , so each visitor is easy to handle.

Take your time, treat each visitor carefully, attach great importance to strategy and tactics, and unfold slowly during the consultation process. Visitors are like a painting, unfold slowly, don’t be anxious , in enough time, we can see the whole picture. Don’t try too hard on a certain point, but understand the entire process of psychological counseling and the hardships involved. Extend it bit by bit without solving the problem. Let the visitors flow naturally, express freely, and explore every detail. Although some will use some disruptive techniques, these are only temporary techniques. The purpose is to make the visitors realize the blind spots, thereby opening up the flow. Gaps and spaces.

4. Be highly aware of transference and counter-transference in the consultation process

Freud said: Psychoanalysis actually deals with two core issues - transference and counter-transference. impedance. During the counseling process, empathy and resistance exist all the time. Sometimes psychological counseling is like a game, competing with each other for wisdom, talent and skills. All kinds of tricks and weapons will come one after another. The counselor needs to have enough ability to identify them. It is very important to experience the subtle changes in body and emotion, to use emotions, feelings and physical sensations as clues to understand the meaning of the interaction with the client, and to feel what the other person is exerting on you. Good clues often contain the counselor's own problems and the client's subconscious secrets. He can accompany himself and the client in the relationship, and slowly face the intricate psychological world together.

Regarding this part, I recommend everyone to read the book "111 Failure Cases", from which you can absorb a lot of nutrients.

4. Emotion, companionship and explanation for the client’s false recovery

For the common phenomenon of false recovery during the consultation process, the counselor can help the visitor Beyond the state of understanding, you should deeply understand the feelings and emotions behind this phenomenon, accompany them through this process in a way that is suitable for the client, and clarify your own views. You do not need to perform well to gain my satisfaction. Thank you. , we can face any problem in the soul together, whether it is painful or happy, whether it is dark or complicated, we can face it, I will always be here, I will not abandon you, take your time, no matter what you encounter , let’s all go take a look, I’m not in a hurry, I’m patient enough, you can fully express your fear, dissatisfaction, anger, worry and anxiety towards me, and I can handle it.

Don’t be afraid, I am here, as stable as the earth.

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