The “COW” in your therapy office
There's something that keeps showing up in many therapists sessions.
I call it the COW.
Or... if you want the fancy version: The "Crisis of the Week."
And here's the thing... you know exactly how this goes:
Your client walks in and you're ready to do the deeper work... the work that actually helps them move forward.
But then?
They start talking about their boss. Or their partner. Or the person who cut them off in traffic on the way here.
And instead of guiding them back to what really matters... you follow them into it.
You spend 50 minutes listening, empathizing, circling around the same story. And by the end of the session, you're wondering... did we actually do anything here? Or did I just witness another round of expensive venting?
The client feels "heard"... but their nervous system hasn't shifted. They're still stuck. You're still stuck. And next week? Another COW.
Here's what I've learned...
The problem isn't your skills.
You've got the ingredients... the training, the tools, the knowledge. But without a clear structure for how to put it all together, it just stays scattered. And the session feels more like a mess than a meal.
You don't need more certifications.
You need a map.
That’s why I'm hosting a live workshop for the clients in my Trauma mastery program on this topic. I’ll be showing how to gently guide clients back to what matters... so you can stop following them into the woods and start actually helping them heal.
We're going to talk about:
How to set treatment targets that actually stick
The "Sandwich" method for structuring sessions
When to move to the next phase (and how to know you're ready)
And just like the last time, you can grab a guest pass if you want to see how this framework actually works in real time.
The Details: Advanced Treatment Planning for Complex & Developmental Trauma Framework
If you're tired of circling the drain with your clients... I'd love to show you another way.
Grab your Guest Pass here: https://integrativepsych.teachable.com/l/pdp/advanced-treatment-planning-for-complex-developmental-trauma
Warmly,
Esther
P.S. A lot of therapists worry that having a framework makes them less empathetic.
But here's what I've found... the most compassionate thing you can do for someone who's been through trauma is to stop circling with them and actually guide them toward relief.
I'll show you how to do that without losing the connection.