Lecture: Standard Procedure and Accessibility (1950)

Don’t try to force a patient into therapy. In the first place, the patient may be very resistant toward the idea that he isn’t all right. You will discover that you have an ally, for instance, in the police. Let’s say we are picking up somebody from the city jail and we are going to check him over. You will also find relatives occasionally will bring somebody around. Maybe they know the judge and if they can prove the patient is not quite sane but can be repaired, perhaps he will be let off. The patient, however, arrives on your doorstep completely closed down as far as you are concerned.

It is up to you then to ally yourself with the patient to turn against his enemy, and the mere fact of turning against his enemy is usually enough to make you an ally of the patient. That very definitely increases accessibility, particularly if you put it on the line of, “Well now, let’s find out what they’ve been doing to you. Let’s really get the goods on these people.” And the first thing you know the person will be working with you. You cannot work very long against a person.¹

Notes