What a Box of Wheat Thins Will Get You

Many of you (do you like how I always talk as if TONS of people are reading my blog?!) have heard me tell different client stories. Well, I have a client that I see every Tuesday right after school. To put it mildly, she does not like being in counseling or spending time with me. The ride to my office is filled with insults and very hateful things. I usually ignore what she says, because as a therapist, I know there is something driving her to say those things. Once we get to the office she is fine with being there and we can have a pretty good session. Anyway, last week I had a really hard time putting aside what she was saying, so I decided on a new tactic. I told her that if she could go two weeks without saying any hurtful or hateful things to me, then I would take her to get ice cream. When I asked her if that was good enough incentive, she said no. I asked her what would be a good enough incentive. She thought for a few seconds and then said, "A WHOLE box of Wheat Thins." :) I laughed and told her that I think I could do that since Wheat Thins cost about as much as ice cream. She then asked if she could have the Wheat Thins AND the ice cream. I told her if she wanted to go four weeks without saying anything hurtful or hateful then she could have both. She opted for just the Wheat Thins :). I didn't really expect this to go anywhere, because I have been unsuccessful to get her to not use her words when she is upset, but I was surprised to see her this afternoon without any hurtful or hateful words! Apparently, Wheat Thins are a great incentive!