Helping patients holding onto thoughts, values and beliefs with the right level of tightness

In counseling, we often have to help our patients learn how to hold their thoughts, values and beliefs with the “right amount of tightness”.

Not too lightly that they don’t care.

But not so tightly that they become overly “fused”, rigid, or obsessed with it.

For example….

It can make a big difference between self reflection (holding thoughts relatively lightly) vs self critical (holding thoughts too tightly).

And…

A discussion (holding thoughts relatively lightly) vs an argument (holding thoughts too tightly).