Adlerian Therapy Role-Play - "Acting as if" Technique

I really appreciate how Dr. Grande asked the client to come up with three "acting as if" behaviors and then went further into narrowing down which behaviors realistically had potential. It allowed the client to rationalize how the behavior would ultimately turn out by playing the tapes all the way through. This way, it made the "acting as if" behavior feel more achievable for the client. I also noticed how Dr. Grande maintained person-centered therapy by basic listening skills such as paraphrasing, reflecting, and summarizing.

By immediately focusing on the clients motivation to spend, he is going straight to the source of stress related spending. From here I really like how he made her think of different ways to deal with her overspending by looking at all options wether they were doable or not. By doing this the therapist actually uncovered a possible goal to work towards while also showing a possible starting point to initiate the change. I found it really important that the counselor told the client she was going to have difficulty at first but the whole point of the "as if" exercise is to go about the situation as if she were confident it would work and she would succeed.

Dr. Grande is amazing man I swear. I'm majoring psychology with concentration in mental health counseling and Dr. Grande is like godsend in these roleplay videos and explanations in the different modalities

As a psychologist and currently a patient, I was recently introduced to this technique. This video makes the technique so much clearer and makes me feel like I have way more chances of finding the behaviours that work the best for me. Thanks for the incredibly helpful roleplay!

As a new CMHC grad student, I feel as if I won the lotto with these videos -thank you!! I am part of an online program and you make me feel like I am having more of a classroom experience! Your role-plays are the best I have found with all actors really doing a great job being authentic and true to the moment and the way you use each technique so well is inspirational. I am taking Counseling Theories this summer and was wondering if you would consider doing a series of videos with the different theoretic modalities or specific techniques like these except being different scenarios, they each attack the same problem? It would be so helpful to see various options and outcomes based on your responses for the same situation. Thanks for your consideration!

I appreciate this technique because I feel like it empowers the client. Dr Grande guided the conversation but the client was in control of the changes she wanted to make in her life which seemed the most rational for her life. I appreciate that there are a few behaviors and if one doesn't work out she has other possibilities to change the behavior she's trying to work through.

I found this video to be a very direct visualization of how to utilize the "As If" technique to help a client gain clarity and make important decisions with regard to their individual goals. I like that Dr. Grande began by exploring the motivations for spending money, therefore enabling the client to explore the deeper meaning behind these behaviors. I enjoyed how Dr. Grande skillfully directed the client to identify possible options, and to think through the feasibility of each option to select what would work best for her situation. Finally, I think leaving the client with a positive affirmation of implementing these behaviors with confidence was key to assisting the client with independent implementation.

I really enjoy Dr. Grande’s Role Play demonstrations, as mentioned before I find as though they are helpful in learning how to properly implement specific techniques into a counseling session. I appreciate the “acting as if” technique because I find that it promotes confidence, positive thinking, and change in behavioral patterns. For this reason, the client is able to work towards altering their behavior to adapt new behaviors that are more sustainable in living a healthier lifestyle. While the counselor is directing the conversation in having the client use the technique demonstrated, the client gains control in deciding which techniques would work best, rather than having the counselor come up with strategies for the client. I appreciated Dr. Grande introducing the technique and providing the client with a clear explanation of what to expect and the concept behind the technique being used. By doing so, the client is aware of the method and process, in order to allow herself to fully participate and set goals that lead to positive outcomes.

I can see how applicable and effective the use of the "acting as if" technique is. Out of all Adlerian techniques,  I believe this is very effective. I appreciate how much autonomy is given to the client. The client was able to review her own interventions to help fix her money problems. Dr. Grande utilized basic listening skills that also contributed to the client's autonomy. The client was able to truthfully analyze her own interventions and properly decide on which approach was best. The client was able to find a new sense of confidence and motivation to help tackle the issue she outlined.

Thank you Dr.Grande for demonstrating the "acting as if" technique. Having the client come up with behaviors she could engage in to change her spending habits was great. The client at first appeared to give examples that would not be helpful and elicit anxiety, such as to stop spending cold turkey or create another budget. You walked her through this process so well and focused on the confidence the client had to change her behavior.

Dr. Grande did great in the beginning of this interview by getting more information about the client. She was able to tell him about the problems she was having with spending. Dr. Grande offered some great Adlerian therapy in the form of 'as if' scenarios. This allowed the client to explore behaviors with Dr. Grande to help her avoid this spending problem she is having.

I think that this video is an excellent portrayal of Adlerian Therapy and the use of the "acting as if" technique because it consisted of a collaborative relationship. Being a goal-oriented therapy, this session displayed that aspect through this specific technique because it allowed the client to reflect on ways to positively change her spending habits. Presenting possible ways to change this concerning behavior, the client was able to develop three possible goals and choose the most fitting one that she would have the most confidence in with accomplishing. By having acted as if she would give her husband her credit card after necessary spending was completed, the client can start becoming conscious of possible feelings she may encounter when that time comes and how she can overcome them. Dr. Grande helped the client discover a new perspective on her spending dilemma and started reorienting the client's behaviors through a specified goal.

It's very interesting now Dr.Grande makes the client comfortable while asking many emotional questions. I also like open-ended questions which allow clients to think and talk. It is a two-way communication and makes client feels they're prt of their treatment

I like the way Dr. Grande helped the client figure out a way to stop spending unnecessarily. The "acting as if" technique appears to be a great way for the client to attempt new behavioral patterns and to put her spending habits back within her goal range.

I really enjoyed this role play. Dr. Grande explained the "as if" technique to the client and they worked together towards a solution that would work best. He asked her to come up with three different behaviors to reduce her spending. Out of the three new ideas, she chose her last option - handing over her credit card to her husband. Dr. Grande noticed the client felt the most secure with this option and chose to move forward. I also liked how Dr. Grande temporarily dismissed the other two behaviors and told the client they could save them for later. These could be new goals for her on her journey to reduce her uncontrollable spending habit.

I noticed Dr. Grande's ability to make the client feel comfortable going over realistic behaviors she could adapt to help reduce the spending problem. This technique seems directive and immediate for solving an issue with a client. I can appreciate this technique because it is realistic and a means to to help the client feel autonomous in solving their own problem.

I found this to be really helpful in understanding how to implement an Adlerian technique in a session. I liked how he helped the client in setting goals for changing target behaviors. By establishing the target behavior and then implementing the "Acting as if" technique, it seems that this could help the client in changing her behavior as long as she stuck with it.

I really like this technique because it helps the client visualize alternate behaviors to the behavior that they want to change. Dr. Grande was very helpful with assisting the client to see the pros and cons to each selected behavioral change. He also helped her to pin point which specific behavior would be the best to "act as if". I also found it helpful that he did not just tell her to go and practice without warning her of the possible challenges, that way she can be prepared ahead of time for possible struggles, so that there is a higher possibility that she will not give up trying.

Experimenting with behaviors gives the client different choices to alter their behaviors to help assist with their financial burdens. I like how paraphrasing what the client says offers the client the answer they may already know subconsciously.

I liked this technique a lot. It seemed to really help the client learn ways that she could change her behavior of overspending. Having the client come up with the scenarios that would help her situation and then going through them and discussing and eventually picking out one was great. I would definitely use this technique with certain clients.