1. Capacity for Consistent Engagement

• Able to attend weekly sessions
• Able to remain engaged even when the work feels uncomfortable or slow
• Not seeking immediate relief at the expense of process

 

2. Tolerance for Emotional Discomfort

• Can remain present when difficult emotions arise
• Does not shut down, avoid, or redirect when material becomes activating
• Willing to stay with the process rather than escape it

 

3. Ability to Hold Personal Responsibility

• Willing to explore own role in patterns and outcomes
• Not solely focused on changing others
• Open to examining impact of own behavior without defensiveness

 

4. Openness to Clinical Framework

• Willing to work within a trauma-informed, science-based model
• Not requiring the clinician to adapt to competing frameworks
• Able to engage without ongoing debate about the foundation of the work

 

5. Stability in External Structure

• Life circumstances allow for some level of predictability
• Not in constant crisis requiring immediate intervention
• Has enough stability to support reflective work

 

6. Financial and Structural Ownership

• Able to maintain a consistent payment structure
• Financial arrangement does not interfere with the therapeutic process
• Responsibility for care is held by the patient (not externalized)

 

7. Use of the Therapeutic Relationship

• Willing to use the relationship as the primary place for processing
• Not relying on external conversations or triangulation
• Able to bring material into session rather than act it out elsewhere