Techniques for Keeping Therapy Clients Motivated & Engaged

One of the most important ways therapists assist their clients in reaching their treatment goals is to keep them engaged throughout the therapy process. Doing “the work” can be slow and can challenge the client’s capacity to stay committed. However, working closely with a therapist who can support them in staying motivated, even when they encounter roadblocks or speed bumps, can help the client both in and outside the process of therapy.

With new clients, setting expectations early on can help clients see therapy as a non-linear journey, so they aren’t caught off guard by occasional setbacks. If a patient is distracted or disengaged, the sooner you address it, the easier it will be to bring them back on board.

Keep reading to learn what signs to look for, and how asking the right questions at the right time can re-energize your therapy sessions.

Set expectations from the start

Set expectations. Therapy is rarely a “quick fix”, though clients may come to therapy very much hoping it will be. Helping them understand what to expect from the process is a critical part of the early stages of treatment, and can normalize some of the discomforts they may encounter along the way.

Understand what motivates them. After a few initial sessions, you’ll get a sense of what seems to work best in terms of engaging your clients in the challenging process of changing their behavior. Pay close attention to moments when your client seems particularly engaged, motivated, and receptive to new ways of engaging, and use this information to structure future sessions. You can also seek more direct feedback as you navigate the therapy process- getting input from clients on what supports their ability to change, and what hinders it.

Check in with clients who may be feeling stuck

Ask for feedback regularly

It’s often hard to know if clients are getting what they need out of therapy, or if they are feeling stuck, without asking them directly. It can be helpful to ask for input at the start of every session, for example:

• I’m wondering if you’ve noticed anything from our last session that felt particularly helpful in the time that has passed?
• Is there anything you wish we’d done differently in our last session?

You can also prompt them to provide feedback at the end of the session, by asking:

• Is there anything we missed today? Anything we didn’t do or cover that you would have wanted to?”

It is absolutely critical that when your client provides feedback, particularly about what is not working, that you actively respond to it. Your flexibility and willingness to make adjustments will help your client feel heard, build your relationship, and maximize your chances of your client achieving their goals.

Treat each therapy session like an experiment

Each time you meet with your client is an opportunity to collect data about what supports their growth. It can be easy to fall into the pattern of doing the same things during each session, but this can mean that you miss out on experiences that will be impactful for that individual.

As you offer new interventions, perspectives, or ways of engaging in session, pay close attention to the client’s responses to these new situations. It will likely help you determine what to do more of, and what falls flat. This will also help the client develop the skills to respond flexibility to new situations outside of the therapy room, and to treat new problems as experiments of their own by being more mindful of what works in their lives, and what is problematic.

Reinforce their progress

Learn what your client finds reinforcing! What do you do as a therapist that seems to validate their behavior? Is it verbal affirmation, humor, or a smile and a nod? Once you begin to get a sense of this, get in the habit of reinforcing even small successes so that your client can recognize their progress as a result of their efforts in therapy.

Provide a goal for them to work on between sessions

The time between therapy sessions can be as powerful as the time spent in session, if the therapist is able to encourage the client to continue the work even outside the therapy room. Whether this means assigning formal “homework,” encouraging your client to actively notice some part of their experience, or committing to having a crucial conversation, clients who carry forward their experience into their lives are more likely to make meaningful changes.

Manage distractions in teletherapy

Virtual therapy has expanded access to mental healthcare and given clinicians more flexibility. At the same time, clients are now just a room away from their spouse, children, pets, and a myriad of other distractions — not to mention a click away from the rest of the Internet.

To keep clients focused and motivated during teletherapy sessions, try these tips:

• Encourage them to minimize distractions when you first start therapy. Suggest that the client put their device on “do not disturb” mode during sessions so you can make the most of your time together.
• Model the behavior you want to see. Make sure you provide therapy in a quiet, private space, and encourage your client to do the same.
• Consider mentioning it if they seem preoccupied. Did you hear a tell-tale notification sound and notice your client’s eyes drifting? Gently bring their attention back to the conversation. Try pausing or asking if they need to take a moment.
• Know when someone isn’t a good fit for teletherapy. Virtual care is a good option for most people, but it’s not right for everyone. If your client consistently seems unable to focus during online therapy, consider encouraging them to seek care in person instead.

Recognizing & remotivating disengaged clients

Bring up issues early and directly.

The best way to re-engage clients who are starting to lose motivation is to notice tell-tale behavior — including missing or being late to sessions or engaging less actively — and discuss it directly. It is not unusual for clients to express their “stuckness” through their behaviors, rather than their words. By allowing them to practice articulating their experiences and needs more directly, you will both empower the therapy relationship and help them practice skills that will be critical in other relationships.

Help the client reconnect to their values.

Therapy can be hard work, and whenever we ask our clients to engage in making changes that may be challenging, it can be particularly helpful to connect them to their “why.” Questions to explore:

• What are the values, or the kinds of qualities that they want their lives to be about, that are motivating their desire to change?
• What kind of future can they envision that would make the hard work “worth it”?
• How can they contact their values in the here-and-now to help support new behaviors?

Revisiting values can be a powerful tool in service of getting clients “unstuck.”

Remind them of your policies.

If your client regularly misses sessions or cancels last minute, remind them of your policies — and stick to them. It’s common to charge a cancellation fee if they don’t give a 24 or 48-hour warning before cancellation. While compassion is always important, taking care of your private practice matters, too.

Closing thoughts

If your client is struggling with staying motivated, remember to be gentle with yourself, too.

Looking for more ideas and resources on keeping your clients engaged? Check out our Resources Hub.