Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this paper is to touch on some aspects of patients’ potentially ambivalent attitude toward change in the early stages of treatment.
Method: A de-identified case study is used as a springboard for discussing these issues.
Conclusion: A range of factors can affect a person's confidence in, commitment to, and results from their treatment. Some of these include: the patient feeling that the nature of their problem – including any ambivalence to change – has been adequately understood; the clinician expressing reassurance or encouragement only after due consideration; the clinician and patient discussing their respective expectations at the outset so as to minimize any subsequent disenchantment; and recognizing the possible presence of a patient's performance anxiety around fearing he or she may fail to respond to treatment and disappoint not only him- or herself but others as well.