Final answer:
RISSSC stands for Repeat, Image, Soften, Slow, Simple, and Client's words, and it's a technique used in Emotionally Focused Therapy to deepen emotional experiences and create a safe therapeutic environment. It is particularly useful in helping clients engage with and process their emotions during therapy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The acronym RISSSC stands for Repeat, Image, Soften, Slow, Simple, and Client's words. It is a technique used in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), which is a structured approach to couples therapy formulated in the 1980s by Dr. Sue Johnson. Using RISSSC is especially useful in EFT when the therapist is trying to help the clients deepen their emotional experience and create a safe environment where clients feel heard and understood.
The RISSSC skills in EFT help therapists attune to their clients at key moments of therapeutic change. For example, by repeating what the client has said, the therapist shows they are listening and understanding, which helps to build a strong therapeutic alliance. Moreover, using the client's own words validates their experience, encouraging them to engage more deeply with their emotions and with the therapy process itself.