In my last blog post I said I would demonstrate, in a mock client \u201csession\u201d, how to use the techniques – emotional bracketing, descriptive immediacy and descriptive imagery.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here it is…<\/p>\n
******************<\/p>\n
Dawn – Hello Client [smiling warmly].\u00a0 It\u2019s a lovely spring day outside.\u00a0 My two office chairs are set up and waiting for us.\u00a0 Please do make yourself comfortable as you read through this message.<\/p>\n
Client – After I told you what I did last week I got scared.\u00a0 It was a really difficult week for me.<\/p>\n
Dawn – [nodding my head in understanding] What you told me last week was big.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
You had held this inside for a long time<\/p>\n
\u00a0[feeling honoured that you shared this with me]\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sometimes when we open up and share so much with another person we can feel….hmmm….[searching for the right words]…..<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u00a0exposed, vulnerable, fragile,maybe even unsafe?<\/p>\n
\u00a0Would any of those words fit for you?<\/p>\n
\u00a0Client – When I told you about what happened – what I meant was that I still feel responsible for what happened, even though I know I wasn\u2019t.\u00a0\u00a0 I struggle with the idea of forgiveness.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0Dawn – Thank you for clarifying that for me.\u00a0 From all that you have said I can see how you would feel responsible though you \u201cknow\u201d you weren\u2019t. It is possible that one day you will be able to forgive yourself for the choices you made at that time in your life [holding on to that thought for you].<\/p>\n
\u00a0Client – I guess I\u2019m feeling stuck right now.\u00a0 There so much that needs to be dealt with.<\/p>\n
Dawn – We all get stuck [would that be an accurate description of the feeling?] and overwhelmed at times.\u00a0 And sometimes it\u2019s because we can only see one way of doing what we want to do and we don\u2019t like that option anymore.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Client – I want to make changes in my life.\u00a0 I REALLY do..but I don\u2019t feel confident that I can.\u00a0 Help.<\/p>\n
Dawn \u2013 That you are willing to make changes is an excellent first step [feeling hopeful that we can work through this together and that you can do this].<\/p>\n
One way forward is to try out a new way of thinking, interacting, behaving and see how that works for you.<\/p>\n
They say [ever wonder who \u201cthey\u201d are?]\u00a0 it takes time and practice to establish a new habit.\u00a0 Research shows it can take as much as 40 days to make a long-lasting change.\u00a0 I say that so that you have a sense of how long it can take\u2026and so you won\u2019t be discouraged if things don\u2019t go well the first time you try something new.<\/p>\n
I guess what I am really saying is \u2013 [speaking sincerely] be gentle, patient and kind to yourself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
*************<\/p>\n
[knowing it was short yet hoping it was useful] More on \u201cpresence\u201d in the next post.<\/p>\n
The opinions in the blog post are personal.<\/p>\n