Those of you who are fans of old American crime dramas will be familiar with Columbo’s trademark “...One more thing...” remark at the end of questioning someone in a case.  And that “one more thing” is also significant in detail.

“Just one more thing” might be something we hear as therapists listening to a long, long story from a client and just when we think they are finished, they add that one more thing to the list.

It might also be something they say with their hand on the door handle as they are walking out of session.  They turn round and impart an immense piece of information that they have held on to for the last 60mins and drop the bombshell on the way out of the door.

It’s real “door handle” stuff.

So what do you do as a therapist if that “just one more thing” feels like that one thing too many for you to respond to or take on board?  Or when the “one more thing” delivers a shattering piece of information when you have no opportunity to respond right at the very end of the session?

Of course, I imagine, like me, you might start reflecting on how that process, event, information was missed through the last session.

Or we might even start to wonder whether the client is playing some strange game.

When it has happened to me I have often also reflected that it might indicate that there is something the client finds really difficult to deal with and mention, so avoids it until the last possible moment, throwing it over to me to support the process through the next session.

And even at times if the “one more thing” is about a bereavement, or trauma of some description than I am conscious that I am now experiencing that sudden bolt from the blue in a similar way to the client’s experience with it.

So, “one more thing” is never really the last thing, it’s really is one more thing for the next part of the journey, both for your client and for you as a therapist.

It’s hugely significant.  It’s hugely relevant to the client process.  And it’s hugely directive of the journey ahead even as your client walks out of the door.

Oh.....There’s just one more thing ..........

The door handle is a significant part of the therapy process......now that’s food for thought!