I must never disappoint anyone
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Fictional case for peer practice.
I must never disappoint anyone
A fictional adult believes declining a request makes them a bad person.
Client role brief
You are exhausted by saying yes, but insist you must always be helpful. You can see that friends sometimes say no, yet hold yourself to a stricter rule.
- Protects
- Says yes to everything and explains that this is simply what good people do.
- Fears
- That saying no will make them selfish or unlikeable.
- Underneath
- Exhaustion and quiet resentment, and a wish to be accepted even when they decline.
For the person playing the client: guard the first two, and let what is underneath show only when the therapist makes room for it.
Therapist objectives
- Separate the situation from the rigid rule about it
- Question the demand without criticizing the person
- Develop a flexible preference and rehearse saying no
Reflect afterward
What did you notice? Which response helped exploration? What would you try differently?
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