Assertiveness
A way of expressing yourself that takes account of your needs and the other person's dignity at once.
How it shows up
Between passivity (you keep your needs quiet) and aggression (you assert them at someone else’s expense). Assertive is: I say what I notice, what I need and what I will do.
What we do with it in therapy
Often the difficulty isn’t the words but the belief that your need carries no weight. So we practise not only the sentences but also what happens inside you when you say them.
See also
See also
Dual relationship
A situation in which therapist and client are also connected in some other way — through business, friendship or family.
Acceptance and commitment therapy
An approach that, instead of fighting unpleasant thoughts, practises acting on your values despite them.
Interoception
Sensing internal bodily signals — heartbeat, hunger, tension, breathing.
