This handout includes sample wording for the initial phone conversation with prospective clients to help set therapy up for success. You can use this for email screening as well if phone screening is not part of your process. 

I include sample wording for:

• Instilling hope with Dangling the Carrot

• Laying out what you need from the client in order for therapy to be successful with the Gentle Ultimatum and

• How to respond if this approach is not the best fit for them with the Multiple Choice Fallback Position and Open Hands.

I find that almost all clients buy into the active work when we're transparent from the beginning, and this often gets them excited to work with you. It also makes it easier to address process resistance when it shows up in the future, including:

• Not following through with homework

• Showing up late consistently

• Inconsistent attendance

• Not completing the BMS/ETS

• Engaging in storytelling instead of doing active work, etc.

I show you steps to address these forms of process resistance as well when you encounter them when working with a client, despite having been transparent about how you work and what you need from them in order to do effective work together.