VIDEO EXERCISE - WRITERS BLOCK
Watch the video and try to get a feel for the emerging goals of the client. In this segment the client talks about writer's block, but as he does so, he identifies (1) his tendency towards perfectionism and (2) his unwillingness to start something unless there is a guarantee of success (i.e., a lack of risk taking). Recall that the REPLAN system asks you to consider the client's goals and ambitions and match those with the therapeutic factor(s) that can best create success for the client. Those factors are:
Relationship: Creating a warm, honest and confiding relationship in the session
Enhancing efficacy and self-esteem
Practicing new behaviors
Lowering or raising emotional arousal
Activating expectations, motivation, and hope
New learning experiences
Utilize the REPLAN system to identify some general idea of what kind of treatment is called for in this case. Start by looking at each goal separately and list which factor might help the client achieve that goal. Then see if you can identify a technique that might work.
1. Consider theclient's statement that he is perfectionistic.
What is the most helpful therapeutic factor(s)? What is a change technique that might work?
2. Consider the client's unwillingness to start something unless there is a guarantee of success (i.e., a lack of risk taking).
What is the most helpful therapeutic factor(s)? What is a change technique that might work?

VIDEO EXERCISE - COUNTERING
COUNTERING VIDEO (Links to an external site.)
Countering has five steps that the helper tries to move through when teaching the client the technique.
The five steps are:
Do a brief assessment of the negative thinking.
Identify a negative thought pattern.
Identify effective counters.
Test counters and modify them.
Client is encouraged to practice this during the week.
Watch the video and pause at the indicated points. Which step is happening?

1. At 1:31:30 the helper asks about the client's confidence and asks for an example.
2. At 1:32:16 the helper says, "What do you say to yourself; do you have an idea? I should have..."
3. At 1:33:07 the helper says, "Like the thought is 'I should have known better' but the core belief is, 'I should have been on top of things.'"
4. At 1:36:03 the helper says, "The first one is 'I should have known better in this situation' and the second one is, 'I am a bad counselor.'"
5. At 1:36:42 the helper says, "Maybe I'm a really bad counselor; I should have known better. It's the same thought process."
6. At 1:37:12 the helper says, "What is a good argument against the fact against that you should have knownbetter?"
7. At 1:37:32 the helper asks, "What about 'I am a beginning counselor'?"
8. At 1:38:36 the helper says, "Now, how does that feel, on a 10-point scale?"
9. At 1:40:54 the helper says, "Do you think that this is something that you could practice then?"

VIDEO EXERCISE - WRITERS BLOCK Watch the video and try to get a fe...