Confrontation — psychotherapy techniques | Library

Soft Bypass of Defenses

Soft Bypass of Defenses

Instead of confronting defenses (as in ISTDP) — creating such safety and contact that defenses become unnecessary and dissolve on their own.

Spitting in the Client's Soup

Spitting in the Client's Soup

The therapist does not forbid the neurotic behavior but makes it less "tasty" by exposing its hidden goal. Once the client sees why they are…

Confronting Existential Givens

Confronting Existential Givens

Van Deurzen follows the existential-philosophical tradition, viewing death, freedom, loneliness, and meaninglessness as irreducible "givens"…

Clarification–Confrontation–Interpretation (CCI Sequence)

Clarification–Confrontation–Interpretation (CCI Sequence)

A gradual interpretive sequence: first clarify, then confront contradiction, then interpret meaning.

Head-On Collision

Head-On Collision

A direct confrontation with the contradiction between the client's wish to change and the defenses that maintain the problem; used more mode…

Empathic Confrontation

Empathic Confrontation

The therapist confronts the client's dysfunctional behavior with empathy but firmly, naming the self-destructive pattern and showing care th…

In TFP, this technique supports the structured exploration of dominant self-other dyads, affect, defenses, contract issues, and shifts in th…

Materials are informational and educational and summarize publicly available scientific sources. They are not medical or psychological advice, are not intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment, and do not replace consultation with a qualified professional.