FORM, FORMLESSNESS, AND FORMULATION

Formulating psychotherapy cases runs the risk of emphasizing clients' difficulties while ignoring their strengths, narrowing the field of po ssible helpful interventions, and fitting clients into preconceived th eoretical notions. While some formulation is necessary and inevitable, it is helpful to constantly reformulate, with special attention to fo stering the therapeutic relationship. Constructivist and systemic ther apies emphasize meeting clients directly and responding intimately, mo ment by moment.