We’ve all experienced that moment in therapy when a client returns, admitting they didn’t complete their after-session activities—sometimes more than once. And as therapists, we know these moments can offer valuable insights into deeper emotional patterns and blocks. So how do we help clients work through this resistance?

Let’s take a page out of Hermione Granger’s book. Yes, even the most diligent, organized, and “homework-loving” witch from Harry Potter faced moments of overwhelming responsibility. She was always the first to complete assignments and even sought extra work. But in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, we see Hermione hit her limit.

The Time-Turner of Overwhelm

Hermione’s desire to excel led her to take on more classes than humanly possible, using a magical Time-Turner to attend multiple classes at once. But as her responsibilities piled up, Hermione began to falter. She snapped at friends, missed important details, and struggled to complete tasks she normally excelled at. It was one of the first times we saw Hermione face the human experience of overwhelm.

For our clients, after-session activities can feel like Hermione’s ever-growing list of responsibilities. Despite their best intentions, the emotional weight of these tasks can become too much, leading to avoidance. Whether they think “I’ll do it tomorrow” or “I’m too tired,” or feel overwhelmed with “I don’t know where to start,” it’s important to understand that the struggle often reflects deeper emotional challenges, not laziness or lack of will.

Curiosity Over Criticism: Channeling Our Inner Hogwarts Professor

Rather than focusing on the incomplete activities, we can take a page from Professor McGonagall’s approach—firm but curious. Instead of asking, “Why didn’t you finish your assignment?” try asking, “What got in the way of completing your after-session activities?” or “How did it feel to think about doing them?”

This shifts the conversation away from blame and into exploration. Clients, like Hermione, may not be avoiding tasks simply because of the workload itself, but because of overwhelming emotions tied to perfectionism, fear of failure, or old patterns. By inviting curiosity, we open the door to conversations about these deeper blocks, allowing us to address avoidance as a symptom rather than a failure.

Evidence-Based Techniques for Therapists

To help clients navigate after-session activities and reduce avoidance, here are four research-backed strategies:

1. Behavioral Activation

This approach is ideal for clients struggling with depression or low motivation. Help them start with small, achievable tasks, like a 10-minute activity. Encourage clients to track how they feel after completing the activity to build positive reinforcement.

2. Cognitive Restructuring

Clients with perfectionistic tendencies may avoid tasks for fear of failure. Use cognitive restructuring to help them challenge and reframe negative thoughts, such as “If I don’t do this perfectly, I’ve failed,” to “It’s okay to do things imperfectly; what matters is that I try.” This reduces anxiety and helps clients focus on progress.

3. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Encourage clients to practice a brief mindfulness or grounding exercise before starting their after-session activities. This can help reduce anxiety and shift them from avoidance to action, particularly if they feel overwhelmed by the emotional weight of the task.

4. Motivational Interviewing (MI)

For clients who struggle with motivation, MI techniques can be powerful. Ask open-ended questions like, “What would be different in your life if you followed through on these activities?” to help clients connect with their intrinsic motivations.

Case Vignettes: Bringing Evidence to Life

To illustrate these techniques, let’s explore two client scenarios:

Case Example 1: Sarah, the High-Achiever

Client Profile: Sarah is a high-achieving young adult who regularly attends therapy but avoids her after-session activities. She admits she “just can’t get started” and feels guilty.

Therapist Response: By exploring Sarah’s avoidance, you discover her fear of failure. Together, you break down her activities into smaller, less intimidating steps and offer psychoeducation around perfectionism and early maladaptive schemas. Over time, Sarah begins to approach tasks with self-compassion, valuing progress over perfection.

Case Example 2: Matt, the Overwhelmed Professional

Client Profile: Matt, a young professional, struggles to balance work and life and often skips his after-session activities, feeling overwhelmed.

Therapist Response: Instead of focusing on the missed activities, you validate Matt’s experience of overwhelm. By adjusting the activities to fit his capacity and exploring the anxiety tied to his avoidance, Matt begins to prioritize his emotional needs and engage with the activities at a more manageable pace.

Therapist Reflection Questions

Here are some reflection prompts to help you deepen your understanding of these concepts:

1. Think of a recent client who resisted after-session activities. What emotions did this bring up for you as a therapist? How can you shift toward curiosity and exploration in your next session?

2. Reflect on your own experience with avoidance. How might your personal blocks inform your empathy and approach to clients facing similar challenges?

3. For a client currently struggling with overwhelm, how can you apply Behavioral Activation to help them break tasks into manageable, achievable steps?

Practical Steps for Therapists: Applying the Hermione Approach

As you integrate these techniques into your practice, keep in mind these practical strategies:

– Break it down: Help clients create smaller, more manageable tasks that align with their emotional capacity.

– Reframe resistance: Understand that avoidance often signals deeper emotional struggles rather than a lack of motivation.

– Provide psychoeducation: Help clients recognize patterns like perfectionism or fear of failure by exploring maladaptive schemas.

– Encourage self-compassion: Remind clients that even small steps count and that it’s okay to approach tasks imperfectly.

Hermione’s Journey and Our Clients

Like Hermione Granger, our clients may struggle with after-session activities due to overwhelming emotions, early maladaptive schemas, or fear of failure. As therapists, we can take on the role of Professor McGonagall—supportive yet firm, compassionate yet curious—guiding our clients through these challenges with understanding and care.

By addressing avoidance with flexibility, psychoeducation, and compassionate accountability, we can help our clients view resistance not as failure, but as an opportunity for deeper self-exploration. After all, even the brightest witch of her age had to learn when to put down the Time-Turner and take care of herself.

Disclaimer: Hermione Granger, Time-Turner, and other elements from the Harry Potter series are the intellectual property of J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All references to these characters and their stories are used purely for illustrative and inspirational purposes. This blog post is not affiliated with or endorsed by J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., or their affiliates. All trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

Written by Jen Hyatt, a licensed psychotherapist at Storm Haven, Counseling & Wellness in Temecula, California. 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional mental health advice.