The Radically Genuine Dialectical Therapist

Holding Therapeutic Conflict Without Losing the Client

Many therapists share a familiar experience: sensing that something important needs to be addressed — avoidance, withdrawal when challenged, topic-shifting when things become uncomfortable, insight without change — while hesitating to upset the client or strain the relationship. Sessions may remain empathic and emotionally attuned, yet momentum fades as pushing for change feels risky. Backing off feels safer — but the work quietly stalls.

Conflict between acceptance and change is not a phase of therapy. It is the work. When therapists avoid this conflict, therapy becomes safer — and less effective. When therapists push too hard, therapy becomes directive — and fragile.

What This Seminar Is Really About
Effective therapy requires therapists to hold a demanding tension:

validating a client’s experience while addressing what is not working
maintaining emotional connection while increasing accountability
tolerating discomfort, rupture, or disagreement without retreating or controlling

When this tension cannot be held, therapy predictably drifts — toward comfort, avoidance, or pressure — and clients disengage.

This seminar focuses on developing the therapist stance that allows conflict to be held safely, repair to strengthen the work, and change to remain possible.

Who This Seminar Is For

This seminar is designed for therapists at any stage of practice who:

work with emotionally sensitive, avoidant, or stuck clients
notice themselves hesitating to challenge for fear of rupture
want to feel more confident when sessions become tense or uncertain

It is not a technique-based workshop or a skills training. The focus is on how therapists show up and lead when the work becomes difficult.

What Will Be Different in Your Work

After this seminar, therapists are better able to:

recognize when therapy is drifting — and why
address avoidance without shaming or rescuing
hold accountability without becoming rigid or controlling
repair ruptures without lowering expectations
stay engaged and effective when emotions run high

Why This Matters

Clients rarely change because therapy feels comfortable. They change when therapy remains safe while asking them to face what they would rather avoid. This seminar helps therapists develop the capacity to hold that space — so clients stay engaged long enough for meaningful change to occur.