The four-question session compass
Separate productive processing from confusion, activation, shutdown, and time pressure.
Begin with the clinical task
Your words should follow the client’s state. The same phrase can be useful during movement and unhelpful during flooding or shutdown.
Recognize the moment
What you may notice
- Is the client oriented to the room and to you?
- Is activation inside a workable range?
- Is new material emerging or repeating without movement?
- Is there enough time to continue responsibly?
Language you can use
What to say
“Take a moment. What are you noticing now?”
“Is this feeling manageable enough to stay with, or do we need to slow down?”
“We have about ten minutes left. Let’s decide whether to continue or begin closing.”
Stay attuned
What to watch next
- Orientation, eye contact, voice, breathing, and ability to choose
- New associations, changes in emotion, image, sensation, or meaning
- Signs that the client is complying rather than genuinely present
Choose deliberately
What to do next
- Present and moving → continue with minimal language
- Present but stuck → clarify the block, then use one targeted intervention
- Outside a workable range → pause processing and return to stabilization
- Time-limited → contain and close rather than chase completion