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Writer's pictureDeric Hollings

Flexible Use of Time

 

When practicing Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) with clients, I try to be mindful of time. Typically, each of my sessions lasts up to 50 minutes and I don’t want to devalue a waiting person’s time by going over time with another individual.

 

This has been my standard behavior since beginning practice of psychotherapy in 2011. Still, I don’t want to present the impression that my sole concern in a session is how long the appointment takes.

 

For context, I once met with a prospective employer who was a successful psychotherapist. During my initial interview with this individual, the practitioner kept darting a gaze from me to an area adjacent to me.

 

I wondered, “Is there a spider crawling next to me or something?” There wasn’t. At the conclusion of the interview, I visually scanned the area and observed a clock sitting underneath a lamp.

 

The therapist was rigidly monitoring time, presumably because this individual had back-to-back appointments scheduled throughout the day. I was merely another body seated on a couch until whoever followed my time was scheduled for the practitioner’s availability.

 

Recalling how annoying – though tolerable – that experience was, I’ve since reminded myself about the importance of flexible use of time. Although I’d been practicing for a number of years by the time I met with the therapist, that initial interview made an impression on me.

 

Perhaps it may be useful to add one missing detail to this personal anecdote. At one point during the meeting, the psychotherapist used a hand in a repeatedly circular motion toward me, as to imply, “Yeah, yeah. Come to a point quickly.”

 

I wasn’t self-disturbed by the implication of how burdensome the pace of my conversational tone apparently was. Rather, I stored the undesirable event in my memory so that I could offer future clients an experience different to that which I received from the therapist.

 

Regarding this matter, page 221 of The REBT Therapist’s Pocket Companion invites REBT practitioners to use flexibility in therapy sessions, modifying duration and form. Doing so may benefit clients and practitioners alike.

 

As an example, if a session is teetering on the edge of another person’s appointment time, I’ve become comfortable with malleably altering the 50-minute mark so that I may encourage a client to consider journaling about the remainder of what was being said in that moment.

 

This constructive homework exercise may then lead to the client resolving one’s own issue through the process of self-help. If the individual is unable to settle the matter, at our next meeting, we pick back up where we left off. Flexible use of time is helpful in this regard.

 

If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

 

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

 

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!

 

 

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW


 

References:

 

Dryden, W. and Neenan, M. (2003). The REBT Therapist’s Pocket Companion. Albert Ellis Institute. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-rebt-therapists-pocket-companion-d185164652.html

Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use

Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better

Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/

Hollings, D. (2024, April 18). Homework. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/homework

Hollings, D. (2022, December 9). Journaling. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/journaling

Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings

Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt

Hollings, D. (2024, January 4). Rigid vs. rigorous. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rigid-vs-rigorous

Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance

Hollings, D. (2024, June 5). Self-help. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-help

Hollings, D. (2023, February 16). Tna. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/tna

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