How can therapists help patients who frequently use Reaction Formation?

Therapists can effectively assist patients who frequently engage in Reaction Formation by exploring the root of their emotions and true feelings. Reaction Formation is a defense mechanism where an individual behaves in a way that is directly opposite to their actual feelings—typically to avoid confronting those feelings. This mechanism often leads to a disconnect between how the person presents themselves and what they truly experience internally.

By exploring the underlying emotions and true feelings, therapists help patients to become more aware of and accept what they feel. This process fosters emotional honesty and allows patients to address and work through their true reactions rather than repressing or overcompensating for them. Such exploration can lead to healthier coping mechanisms and authentic expression of emotions, thereby reducing reliance on maladaptive defenses like Reaction Formation. This approach encourages emotional insight and healing, facilitating healthier relational dynamics and self-perception.

In contrast, the other options suggest behaviors that could reinforce denial or avoidance of underlying emotions, which would not be conducive to therapeutic progress. For instance, suppressing all emotions may lead to greater emotional distress and disconnection from self. Promoting competitive interactions or limiting expression to only acceptable emotions can further entrench unhealthy behavior patterns rather than encouraging genuine emotional processing.