Therapy is a process that is staurated with ambiguity; due to the nature of the field; it invites clients to expand their level of thinking with introspection, openess and the abiltity to provide a range of choices to change the course of outcomes. I thought it was something that the clients wanted, but I recognized that too much ambiguity may cause them to terminate the process earlier. The goal of a therapy is not to fix the client, but to get them to a place where they can be content about the direction they are going.
Therapy is ever evolving, specific methods that works in the past; may not serve clients in the present. Sometimes the clients want the straightforward response fom the therapist, but ultimately, that's not the intent of therapy - I don't want to provide the answers to your life story because it's your lived experiences, not mine. When a therapist is trying to tell you more about your life, and not giving you range to express yourself, then those are when the red flags should be coming out. As frustrating as it can be in these sessions; it's necessary to provide the transparency for clients to know what therapy should entail.
This approach should be impactful to the client...helping them navigate their boat while the clinican guides them to the direction. I assumed through my years in school this was the core aspect to therapy as it praises ambuigity and empowers clients to make the choices that would help them along the way. Understanding the kind of way you brain processes information is a great start to recognzing how you interpret information; especially in therapy.
Do you find ambiguity to be a strength; as it examines grey areas in your life where you need to find the path that makes the most sense to you. If you're coming from an emotional frame of reference, this might make it easer for you to process through a ray of solutions. Are you a logical thinker? I find individuals who come from this framework don't like the ambiguity and what it could offer to the therapy process. They want a solid answer to their problem and without coming to that proper conclusion, they are unsure if they are making progress.
I researched ambiguity interpretation vs ambiguity confusion and the difference it has on clients' perception in the therapy space. Check this out!
The distinction between ambiguity interpretation, which enables the clinician to support clients in coming to different conclusions to enhance their understanding and rationale of their situation, vs. ambiguity confusion, which can lead to misleading information about the role of therapy and not allow the clients to get to the point of interpreting their information successfully.
In the study titled "Ambiguity in Psychotherapy: The Positive Role of Ambiguity Tolerance in Psychotherapy Outcomes" by Lawrence Norman Leung, it is noted that, despite extensive research in the industrial-organizational field, ambiguity tolerance has not been thoroughly explored in clinical settings.(Andersen & Schwartz, 1992). Ambiguous tolerance enables clients to expand their thinking and embrace uncertainty. We live in a world where the uncertainy enhances mental health conditions.
There are so many ways for ambiguity to be integrated within the process, without causing complications and possible termination with the clients in the long run. If clients are in a space where therapy is not successful due to this reason, let your clinican know.
It’s okay to be vocal and compromise to explore how ambigutity can be more valuable in the space to see if this can lead your down a clearer road. Remember that reflection, critical thinking and problem solving are all important elements to ensuring you get what you need to take control over the therapy system.
