-IBIS-1.5.0-
rx
process work
working with signals
psychospiritual approaches
definition
see preliminaries:
process paradigm
process work: basic principles
process work: glossary
process work: observation
process work: channel examples
process work: interventions
Just as the unconscious mind is functioning (i.e. dreaming) all the time, so, too, the body is dreaming perpetually. Another way to say this is: mind and body processes mirror one another, revealing and expressing different aspects of the same process. When you interrupt the dreaming system, the secondary material, important conflicts, intrapsychic polarities and the "dreaming body" come up very easily.
The following are methods of working with signals:
AMPLIFICATION:
Amplify the double signal as implied by the signals observed; and watch for channel changes or the limit of the persons' awareness.
« Do it more and become aware of what you are doing.
« Do it faster, or slower.
« Make it global. This ;means do what you are doing with one part of your body with your whole body.
« Use yoga for amplification. If you see someone stretching, suggest they go into a posture which would amplify their position. Then take them to the physical edge in the posture and work with that edge.
FORBIDDING:
Playfully inhibit the process. Forbid expression in the occupied channel, as this paradoxically amplifies the urge or impulse behind it and brings its meaning closer to awareness. The patient should know that you are making this as an intervention.
« Find out what the person loses if you forbid a signal. You might ask them to do the opposite of what they are doing.
MIRRORING:
Role play the secondary figure; switch roles to mirror the process to the patient.
« Face the person and do it with them.
« Use the mirror if the person is in the visual channel.
« Use the mirror when working on yourself alone.
GUESSING INTO THE SIGNAL:
« Say, "You have your head in your hand and I guess this means you need support." Watch the feedback !
« Or guess wrong, "I guess this means you are feeling great." Watch the feedback. If you make the wrong interpretation of a signal, ask the client to correct it and tell you what is right. "That was wrong, so tell me what is right."
INTERVENING:
Taking over by physically intervening with the message. Most signals consist of at least two or more parts. Intervening in the signal helps separate the parts.
« Take the weight. If they are leaning on the wall let them lean of you. If the head is supported by the hand, you hold their head. If they are leaning back, sit back to back and change channels.
« Just intervene and disturb the signal. You are sure to find our more about it this way. If someone is leaning back on one are, remove the arm and experiment with how/why it is needed. Be specific: what kind of support do you need?
Client takes over the symptom maker:
Have the client create the pain or make the symptom on your body.
Do to their body what they are doing to themselves:
But do it even more than they have been. Test by adding information and changing the pattern.
Use the visual channel:
This is especially useful if the visual channel is occupied.
« Do what they are doing and have them watch, react, criticize, interfere.
« Make a picture of the pain or symptom, imagine someone else who has it.
Unoccupied movement:
If there is lots of unoccupied movement (body parts are moving but the client is unaware of it), just tell the client to stand up and watch feedback. Even more effective, take their hand and stand up with them.
Spatial signals: Work with distance and body angles by amplifying or forbidding. That is, have some turn even further away from you (or their partner) to see what is right about not facing the person directly.
(Mindell, training seminars)
(Burg)
see:
process work: working on the edge
process work: interview
transference and countertransference
footnotes