Which technique involves inviting exaggerated thoughts and behaviors to help clients confront resistance and take responsibility for their behavior?

Which technique involves inviting exaggerated thoughts and behaviors to help clients confront resistance and take responsibility for their behavior?

• A. Life Tasks
• B. Immediacy
• C. Paradoxical Intention
• D. Fictional Finalism

Answer: (C)

Paradoxical intention hinges on inviting the person to deliberately engage with or exaggerate the very thought or behavior they fear. By choosing to experience the feared outcome on purpose—often in an amplified or humorous way—the anxiety around it loosens, the resistance drops, and the person sees they can still act despite the fear. This shift helps the client take responsibility for their responses rather than letting fear dictate behavior. For example, someone with performance anxiety might be asked to imagine delivering a talk in an exaggerated, over-the-top way. The humor or exaggeration makes the fear feel less real, reducing the urge to avoid and promoting proactive action. This technique stands apart from immediacy (focusing on in-the-moment therapy processes), Life Tasks (addressing broad life goals), and Fictional Finalism (imagined end goals guiding behavior), because paradoxical intention deliberately uses exaggeration of the feared behavior to lessen its grip and empower the client to take responsibility for change.

Paradoxical intention hinges on inviting the person to deliberately engage with or exaggerate the very thought or behavior they fear. By choosing to experience the feared outcome on purpose—often in an amplified or humorous way—the anxiety around it loosens, the resistance drops, and the person sees they can still act despite the fear. This shift helps the client take responsibility for their responses rather than letting fear dictate behavior.

For example, someone with performance anxiety might be asked to imagine delivering a talk in an exaggerated, over-the-top way. The humor or exaggeration makes the fear feel less real, reducing the urge to avoid and promoting proactive action. This technique stands apart from immediacy (focusing on in-the-moment therapy processes), Life Tasks (addressing broad life goals), and Fictional Finalism (imagined end goals guiding behavior), because paradoxical intention deliberately uses exaggeration of the feared behavior to lessen its grip and empower the client to take responsibility for change.