Sifneos's active use of anxiety as a motivator for insight and change in carefully selected clients.
Step-by-step guide
- Identify the avoided conflict
- Clarify the anxiety around it
- Use direct questions to increase awareness
- Keep the anxiety within a tolerable range
- Connect anxiety with the avoided feeling and relational pattern
When to use
- With psychologically minded clients
- When avoidance is maintained by manageable anxiety
- When motivation needs activation
Key phrases
What is so frightening about feeling this directly?
Follow-up questions
What do you imagine would happen?
Can we stay with the anxiety long enough to understand it?
Alternative phrasings
The anxiety is pointing us toward the conflict.
Let us not run from the signal too quickly.
Warnings
- ⚠️ Not for fragile clients or severe dysregulation
- ⚠️ Do not provoke anxiety for its own sake
- ⚠️ Monitor alliance closely
Source: Sifneos, P. (STAPP)
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.