Client Typology and Motivation

Classification of demand according to expectation

Not all couples come to consultation with the same disposition or looking for the same thing.

It is useful to categorize users according to their expectations in order to adjust the intervention.

We find the "Reluctant" client, who attends under pressure or dragged by his partner; his motivation is low or null.

On the other hand, there is the "Action Seeker", who arrives with a surgical mentality, expecting the therapist to remove the problem quickly without them having to exert too much effort.

There are also the "Opinion Seekers," who come to the professional as if he or she were a judge, looking for the professional to validate their position and rule on who is right in the conflict.

Similarly, "Advice Seekers" want precise guidelines and step-by-step prescriptions, showing a more passive posture.

Finally, there are the "Theory Seekers," who want to intellectually understand the source of their ills, and the "Therapy Clients" themselves, who understand that the process involves talking, processing and actively working on change.

Managing Expectations: From Mechanic to Guide

It is common for couples to arrive with the misconception that the therapist will "fix" their relationship in the same way that a mechanic repairs a car.

This expectation of passivity must be confronted and reframed from the first sessions.

The role of the therapist is not to solve the problems for them, but to facilitate a space and tools for them to generate the solutions themselves.

If the professional accepts the role of "expert solver", he/she runs the risk of generating dependency or of being blamed if the imposed solutions do not work.

The framing should make it clear that the therapist is a partner or guide in the discovery, and that the responsibility for change lies with the couple and their work outside the session.

The challenge of the "hostage" or reluctant client.

A common situation is when one partner is the driving force in therapy and the other reluctantly attends, often under threat of rupture.

This "reluctant" or "hostage" client represents a significant obstacle, as couples therapy requires the participation of both partners to be effective.

If one of the members refuses to participate, or only does so in person, boycotting the process, the chances of success are minimal.

In these cases, it is sometimes possible to start working with the motivated member, but the objective must always be to involve the other.

However, one must be realistic: if there is not a minimum willingness to participate on both sides, joint therapy may not be feasible.

Summary

Couples attend with varying expectations that condition their motivation towards real future change. Profiles range from the reluctant under pressure to very precise theory seekers or advice seekers.

The passive expectation that the therapist acts as a mechanic must be quickly confronted. The professional is a guide in the process where the responsibility for change lies entirely with the client.

The hostage client, dragged down by threats of breakdown, represents a significant obstacle to success. Without a minimum willingness to participate on both sides, joint intervention is not ultimately feasible.