Who would study psychology if they didn't have some kind of problem?

Chapter 391 Following Discovery, Presenting Observation and Excavation
In motivational interviews, counselors help clients recognize how their current life situation is hindering them from achieving their ideal state and individual goals.

This "obstacle" is the "contradiction".

Presenting and analyzing contradictions can enhance a visitor's motivation to make changes.

Xu Pengcheng's first contradiction is the conflict between "dieting" and "improving grades".

The good thing is that this contradiction has already been presented in reality. All Nan Zhuren needs to do is point it out to Xu Pengcheng, so that Xu Pengcheng has no choice but to recognize this point again.

At the same time, the motivational interview method is distinct from other cognitive modification techniques.

When facing other visitors, Nan Zhurenduo would present them with the various choices they were facing at that moment, and then inform them of the consequences of each choice, allowing the visitor to make their own decision.

Xu Pengcheng's situation differed from the other visitors in two ways:

First, Xu Pengcheng faces limited, or rather, only, choices—Nan Zhuren must make Xu Pengcheng realize the error of his current dieting behavior, and then get him to eat on his own initiative.

Second, Nan Zhuren cannot tell Xu Pengcheng that he should make this choice—Xu Pengcheng himself definitely knows, but he lacks the motivation to make the choice—therefore, Nan Zhuren needs to make Xu Pengcheng realize on his own that he should make this choice.

This is why Nan Zhuren chose this technique, which has a humanistic foundation.

Today's cognitive correction session will focus on "following" and will utilize a large number of different types of "questioning," "feedback," and "listening."

Instead of confrontation and instruction.

The main style of the consultation is "following," with even a very weak element of "guidance."

When counselors reduce their control during counseling, they are, in a sense, even handing over some of the control to the client.

When a visitor's ability to take control increases, it means that he has grown.

Of course, the “control” that the client gains is actually “control under the control” of the counselor.

……

While Xu Pengcheng was pondering Nan Zhuren's question, Nan Zhuren continued to adjust and enrich the details of this consultation plan in her mind.

As he finished thinking, Xu Pengcheng already had the answer in his heart.

"Indeed, yes, the dieting might be a bit too much right now."

Xu Pengcheng lowered his head: "I've had a lot of tests done at the hospital these past few days. Some doctors specializing in nutrition and sports medicine came to talk to me and even created a special diet plan for me..."

This nutrition plan is certainly not as good as the ones designed by nutritionists for professional athletes; it doesn't specify exactly what to eat in the morning and how many grams.

But it's much better than Xu Pengcheng's previous approach of blindly dieting without caring about anything else.

only--

[The brow furrows.]

[Pull down the corners of your eyes.]

Clenching teeth and swallowing.

[She still resists, and when discussing diet plans, she still has a subjective tendency towards anorexia.]

If there were no second layer of conflict, we could actually proceed directly to training the feeding behavior at this point...

It now seems that the second layer of contradiction is even the core contradiction.

Nan Zhuren sighed inwardly, but put on a concerned expression and redoubled his efforts.

"But it seems you don't want to follow the doctors' diet plan. Don't you like it?"

"No, no," Xu Pengcheng quickly waved his hand. "The doctor's plan is very professional, much more professional than before. I'll definitely recover quickly if I follow their plan, but..."

While Xu Pengcheng remained silent, Nan Zhuren took the opportunity to speak.

“But you still don’t want to comply. You feel that if you get better, you’ll have a kind of…” Nan Zhuren carefully chose his words, giving a confirmation, “'Guilt,' right?”

Nan Zhuren's bluntness left Xu Pengcheng somewhat at a loss.

But this actually made Xu Pengcheng start looking into Nan Zhuren's eyes, and he leaned forward slightly.

Once the thoughts in one's mind are pointed out, a highly empathetic counseling relationship begins to take shape.

This also makes it easier for Nan Zhuren to present Xu Pengcheng's "contradictions" and deal with Xu Pengcheng's "resistance".

“Yes, teacher… just like I told you before, I’ve caused everyone a lot of trouble.” Nan Zhuren listened attentively: “I can sense that you are really sad and guilty. You seem to have taken all the responsibility for making everyone do extra practice on your own shoulders.”

This was followed by an open-ended question: "Besides having to do extra training with everyone because of my own physical limitations, do you think you've done anything else that 'troubled' others?"

Xu Pengcheng paused for a moment, then began to think.

I seemed to get stuck while thinking.

Half a day later, he shook his head: "There don't seem to be many others..."

This is a defensive statement; it is vague and cannot list other 'troubles,' so it simply means "no."

"However, I think this would be particularly troublesome for everyone."

Nan Zhuren looked thoughtful, then asked, "You just said you knew your Coach Wang had some trouble recently, so he left, right?"

Xu Pengcheng nodded: "Yes."

"Do you know what it is?"

"I don't really know, no one has explained it to me in detail..."

“One of the reasons was the unreasonable training plan,” Nan Zhuren said. “She made you do extra training and had everyone else do it with you. After the Education Bureau and the Health Commission found out about this, they took strict measures.”

"In other words, you feel that the extra training is something you've 'troubled' everyone, but in reality, it's your Coach Wang who has 'troubled' all the team members, including you."

Nan Zhuren said, "At least, that's what the leaders think."

The contradictions are presented to Xu Pengcheng through irrefutable facts.

silence.

Nan Zhuren estimated that this "contradiction" might not be powerful enough to immediately change Xu Pengcheng.

But it was enough to make Xu Pengcheng think more deeply.

……

Sure enough, after thinking for a moment, Xu Pengcheng shook his head.

Nan Zhuren continued to provide feedback.

"You still seem upset, or do you feel like you've caused trouble for everyone?"

Xu Pengcheng grabbed his trouser leg.

"Yes. Although Coach Wang... does seem a bit off now. But even if her training plan has problems, everyone was able to execute it without any issues."

"Or rather, it was because of me that Coach Wang had the opportunity to carry out this problematic plan, which caused trouble for everyone."

Okay, if the force in this direction isn't enough, then let's change direction and present the contradiction again.

"You still feel guilty, and this guilt makes you want to punish yourself. Dieting is part of your self-punishment."

A single instance of reflexive listening allows for an appropriate extension of the previous conversation.

Then, an open-ended question is introduced.

"Besides dieting, what other ways do you 'punish' yourself?"

"Or rather, what do you feel is about your daily interactions that makes you feel less guilty?"

Xu Pengcheng gritted his teeth, as if he was enduring and resisting something.

“When everyone… gives me extra practice, the movements are sometimes too big, which makes me uncomfortable.”

"But the more uncomfortable I feel physically, the better I feel mentally."

……

Nan Zhuren recalled the first time he saw Xu Pengcheng, when the other students held the baton and urged Xu Pengcheng to run forward like they were herding animals.

His eyes gleamed slightly.

A new and powerful direction for counseling intervention has emerged.

(End of this chapter)