by Joe Oliver, Clinical psychologist, founder of Contextual Consulting.
If you ask me whether you need to know relational frame theory, I almost always say yes. Understanding and unpacking this theory can significantly enhance and develop your clinical practice.
That said, it’s akin to learning to read sheet music – is it necessary to be an amazing musician who can play from the heart and soul? Absolutely not. Many top musicians, such as Jimi Hendrix, Björk, and Prince, couldn’t read sheet music, yet it didn’t hinder their ability to create incredible music.
However, those musicians who could read sheet music would argue that it opens up their understanding of the underlying musical structures and helps them appreciate how notes and phrases fit together. It also facilitates communication with other musicians in ways that might not have otherwise been possible.
Similarly, when it comes to learning relational frame theory (RFT), it’s important to keep this in mind. RFT is a complex and nuanced theory, and for good reason – any comprehensive theory of human language must have some level of complexity. If it were overly simplistic, it would likely be missing crucial elements.
For me personally, learning RFT has been a long journey, and as a clinician working in the trenches, I’ve always been focused on how it can improve my practice. The intellectual fascination and geek-out factor can only take me so far if it doesn’t translate into tangible benefits for my clients.
So, here are five key ways in which learning RFT has made a difference in my clinical practice:
- It has helped me be tighter and more focused in my interventions. RFT provides clarity on the specific targets for change, allowing me to design more impactful interventions.
- It has helped me become more creative. I am now less reliant on standard techniques and approaches. Being able to delve deeper into my behavioural and language targets through metaphorical exploration allows me to think creatively and step outside the box. This enables me to draw new ideas, integrate them swiftly, and develop innovative approaches on the spot.
- It helps me think more widely and conceptually when I’m working with a person, allowing me to see the bigger picture more clearly. When I’m talking with someone, I always keep in mind the different relational frames that might be at play – the coordination, opposition, and distinction relations that could be underlying their discussions. For example, if someone who is feeling depressed is reminiscing about a happier past, I’m always considering what that might imply about their outlook on the future and their feelings of hopelessness. When someone discusses their relationships with others, I’m constantly questioning how they perceive themselves in relation to those individuals. When the conversation turns to specific relationships, such as their experiences of parenting, I also contemplate how they view themselves within those roles and as parents. This approach sometimes leads to a deeper understanding of emotions that may initially seem disconnected from the conversation topic.
- It also assists me in unravelling the entanglements and language traps that arise, especially concerning self and identity. Understanding how language seeks coherence and simplicity, and how repetition can lead to automatic responses, is crucial. It enables me to observe how individuals become ensnared in deeply painful self-fulfilling cycles. It’s akin to being trapped in a self-made cage with the key hanging around one’s neck, seemingly just out of reach.
- It has improved my ability to strike the “high challenge, high connection” sweet spot in therapy. Effective therapy should encompass both a deep connection and rapport with clients, as well as a high level of challenge. By gaining clarity on a person’s history and behavioural patterns, I can offer targeted validation that resonates with the client, fostering a sense of understanding as we explore together some of the contradictions they may be experiencing. For instance, a common theme is the desire to change while also fearing change, or the wish to belong while staying true to oneself. Establishing a strong connection allows me to introduce more substantial challenges aimed at disrupting ingrained behavioural patterns and guiding individuals towards developing new, more beneficial ones.
Ultimately, while RFT is a complex theory, I believe the benefits it can bring to clinical practice make it well worth the investment of time and effort. It’s a tool that, when wielded skilfully, can significantly enhance the depth and effectiveness of the work we do with our clients.
As an advocate for RFT I’m pleased to share some training sessions with you that teach the theory:
RFT training for beginners:
- Relational Frame Theory (RFT) made simple A practical and easy to understand introduction to relational frame theory (with yours truly!)
- Introducing acceptance and commitment therapy Learn how to use ACT in your practice with Dr Joann Wright. This comprehensive, engaging, and highly practical foundation in ACT will also deepen your understanding of relational frame theory (RFT) to enhance your ability to engage in effective perspective-taking with clients.
Intermediate/Advanced level RFT training:
- Using RFT to build psychological flexibility Understanding RFT principles in ACT practice with Dr Siri Ming. This live session coming in January 2025 is for any practitioners who need to deepen their understanding of the clinical applications of RFT.
- Applying RFT in therapeutic settings Enhancing interventions with process based behaviour therapy (PBBT) with Dr Yvonne Barnes-Holmes. PBBT is the only whole therapeutic programme that is underpinned entirely by RFT. Learn from Yvonne, one of the pioneers of PBBT in this session. Live online in February 2025
Resources related to RFT: what is it good for? Absolutely everything.
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