Saying yes while wanting no
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Fictional case for peer practice.
Saying yes while wanting no
A fictional adult describes agreeing to an invitation while noticing tension in their shoulders and a wish to decline.
Client role brief
You explain your reasons at length but have trouble saying what you want right now. If invited to notice your body or try saying a sentence aloud, choose whether to participate; you can decline.
- Protects
- Explains their reasons at length instead of saying what they want.
- Fears
- That saying no will disappoint someone or cost the friendship.
- Underneath
- A clear wish to decline, held in the shoulders, and wanting permission to choose.
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
- Invite present-moment noticing without assigning a meaning
- Explore the tension between agreement and preference
- Offer a brief experiment with consent and review it
Reflect afterward
What did you notice? Which response helped exploration? What would you try differently?
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