How to Frame a Directive So the Client Actually Does It

Rapport7 - Issue #1

Clients who leave a session with a vague assignment rarely follow through. This guide covers the mechanics of effective directive delivery in strategic therapy: how to be specific enough that the client knows exactly what to do, how to frame the task so the client wants to do it, and when in the session to deliver the directive so it carries weight rather than getting lost in the closing minutes.

Working through this guide, you will learn how to secure genuine commitment before the client walks out, how to use authoritative language without triggering resistance, and how to follow up in ways that maintain momentum without pressure. Examples draw from Haley's Problem-Solving Therapy and his documentation of directive-based practice. Part of the Practical Guides for Therapists and Coaches series.