MARCH 2019 [VOLUME 30 | ISSUE 2 fi "She's my wife, not my counsellor!"

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The voice of the counsetling and p$yqhotherapy

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o are THE

MILLEI{NIA a (And why are they flocking to therapy?)

Post-cult counselling // Selfies, citizens and social justice Pushing the boundaries with therapy tt : the art of re-creation Presenting issues Mr Freeze Lhe lion a Ann Lombard describes how psvchrosvnthesis works to release a client's poteiltial

udy arrived reluctantly for his functioning in relationships, communication. c- r: . - -.', : t-. - t: sarisf\ ing. empowering ..*: -._- - . flrst counselling appointment. problem-solving and capacity for divergent f, ::. -. ------:.'.. --:i:r-:-r. e. His colleague at worl< had been thinking and feeling.lG I.l -..:- :. :-..> -.:-,a-: is lo shovn, how the seeing me for therapy and had Divergent thinking is a central feature S-l-: : .'., - *:. n lsichosynthesis insisted Rudy do likewise - of creativity. Divergent thinking tends to f l , -:> :- .. :--.:', l:. :li thefapeUtiC to the point of taking hold be tentative, exploratory and oriented to of Rudy's mobile phone and making the multiple possibilities. It includes the abilitl' ;l:l- :: --:. : ' --:l-. :-t :gbUild thgif appointment for him. Rudy, aged 31, had to hold contradictory ideas simultaneouslv l:l: .' --- --: :, - l:--L-llTIe aCtiVely

!-=:-- :.--, .:. --.:-' been feeling stuck, both in his bioengineering in one's mind while incorporating and -:.. research and in his personal relationships. For modifying new ones.ln fact, for many the past six months he had been struggling counselling clients, learning and practising Psychosynthesis explained .- 'couldnt h^-..L --: - with a particular experiment that he divergent thinking and feeling can be l'JS\ Cn' ':', L -:-. : :L .L.cil3tl\ €. seem to make happen'.ln addition, he had their flrst step toward positive growth trSllSlclS , ' :. -. . .'- :hat provides broken up with his girlfriend 16 months and change.T a Un.'...,r . .-' - ' .' .:.-'OfpOfating previously, but felt unable to start dating again. In line with this assumption, Milenkovic one S l * ,':: .-- :, -. - -.itS and behaviOur During our flrst meeting, he admitted:'l feel has stated that' is a scientific inltr a:.. -- t -: > . .. :s.sed ri'hoie -:.. like lthe relationship] never ended or [that it] discipline but also an art of re-creation for thar:..:.--:: : ..-: -.- ltmensions - ended unsatisfactorily because I couldn't fix it... people, their personality and behavior... ph', s-:r =: l: -,:.-.-r. :nd SpifitUal. Since grammar school, I've always had goals implying new attitudes towards oneself, PS-.:: :.- -:: - -: : :- pSiChOanalySiS and I always worked towards them. But, when others, and the future, that involves awakening itl ::-.- .. :--- -:: :-: - :. : 1,r.1 andspiritual my girlfriend left, I felt lost. Nothing seemed to the creativity in the client'.S Rogers also argued S'..--..=... - .:-: :.: ....'SUbpefSOnality -: work any more. I lost interest in my life.' that'the mainspring of creativity appears to Ill , -: : -: '- . --:I-:'li8l fheOfigs Of Rudy appeared to be stymied both be the same tendency as the creative force in professionally and personally, to the point of psychotherapy'.s As such, the counsellor and : r.. -,, r- -: r :::---:-. ,-l3lfi'eall haVe needing someone to call me for help on his client can be seen as co-producers of ideas l.-,- - ::- -'---' -: ::,,:.-lelpUStO behalf His creativity appeared to be blocked, and solutions that are both novel and useful, Lt--- . - -: -:-...'.',tthoutmuch leaving him feeling lost,lonely and depressed. in that they create a new way of being for the

Therapy as a creative process Creativity can have many positive outcomes for health and wellbeing.l Surprisingly, notions 'The of creativity are, nevertheless, not widely counselior a--: ------:-r be seen found in the counselling literature. However, research has shown parallels between creative as co-pro ucers o SO ut10ns training processes and counselling methods.za ^t Similarly, studies have shown that both at are ot nove ,ln d-L creative training and counselling enhance participants' personal growth, enjoyment and iheycreate arre\\------:---i self-confidence, resulting in improvements in

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Presenting issues

Figure I mothel father teacher and leader. Often these subpersonalities are polar' for example, we mightbe carefree and spontaneous in one situation and frozenin another. The ( ? aim of psychosynthesis is to enable clients # to work towards wholeness, to synthesise or harmonise these subpersonalities into a unifying centre of authenticity. { Underpinning the subpersonality model is the notion that a higher quality - truth, strength or courage, for example - lies at the core of each subpersonality, no matter what its external manifestation might be. These higher qualities are considered to be universal and timeless. However, they can JG be degraded or distorted when expressed through a subpersonality. The challenge for l{* lr*ztP* the individual is not to repress or eliminate the subpersonality's behaviour but to recover its higher quality, so they can express that gift in a more positive and holistic way. Mr Fix-lt (left) and Mr Freeze Psychosynthesis techniques include guided visualisation, daily self-reflection, role playing, drawing and dream work. One name - for example, The Rebel or TheJoker. typicalll'fulhlled. Then they can try to imagine technique specific to psychosynthesis is Humour is used during this stage to facilitate how they might fulfll their subpersonality's the self-identification exercise, also referred disidentification and allow the client to engage needs in a nelv, objective and creative way, to as the disidentiflcation exercise or the more playfully with the subpersonality. Having in order to transform inner conflicts. body-feeling-mind meditation. The aim of the named the subpersonality, the client then At this stage, the client can be invited self-identiflcation exercise is to help clients creates its character sketch, including to explore their childhood histories more systematically bring awareness and affirmation a drar,ving of it. deeply in order to uncover the aetiology to the physical, emotionaland mentalaspects The next step is acceptance of the of their subpersonalities. This allows them of their personality, and then guide them to named subpersonality. The client is asked to to more easily observe and disidentify disidentify from each aspect. For example, observe what triggers each subpersonality's from the subpersonality and decide how during the l0-minute meditation, which is appearance and to watch and allow to meet its needs. Horvever, this step is not led by the therapist, clients are asked to flrst that subpersonality to simplS, exist. This mandator5, and depends entirely on a client's acknowledge that they have a body. Then they exercise helps to strengthen the client's psychological maturity and what he or she are asked to acknowledge that they are not ability to become aware of and observe the thinks would be helpful. their body - that they are, in fact, much more subpersonality without harsh judgement. The finalstages of the subpersonality than this single component of themselves. Co-ordination is a complementary stage to process - integration and synthesis are Through disidentification, the individual acceptance, where the client learns what the lifelong endeavours. While co-ordination deals learns to become the observer and director subpersonality wants and needs in order to with the development and understanding of alltheir subpersonalities so they can ultimately find acceptable ways in which these of speciflc subpersonalities, integration is function in a harmonious and balanced desires can be fulfllled. First, the client must concerned with the relationship between way. The process follows five stages: identify how the needs of a subpersonality are subpersonalities, as well as each one's activity recogr-rition, acceptance, co-ordination, integration and, flnally, synthesis of one's numerous subpersonalities. Recognition occurs when, along with -The the therapist, the client assesses what next step is to give the subpersonalities might be playing a dominant role in his or her presenting issue(s). These su5 our subpersonalities are revealed through the different roles clients play in different 15 US ... to owt EC lent to situations with different people (including the therapist). Once the subpersonality engage more p ywl[ 1t is recognised, the next step is to give it a

THERAPY TODAY 30 I./ARCH 2019 within the personalitl'as a u,hole. Synthesis sale enough 13 l1r j! In unfamiliar company, and feelings of inertia became clear after I led involves the culmination of individualgrowth where he relt unsat-e. \ir Freeze would him through avisualisation duringwhich I that allows for balance and harmony of the immediatell disengage and remain'frozen' asked him to imagine his anger was an animal. entire being. As a result of synthesis, the life outside the group. For example, at a friend's Rudy visualised his anger as a lion, waiting to of the individuai and their interactions with recent ri.edding part1. Mr Freeze couldn't be let out of a door that Rudywas unable to others become 'increasingly characterized by join in the dancing, even though he danced open, even in his imagination (flgure 2). After just a sense of responsibility caring, co-operation, well and enior,ed it. this visualisation, Rudy remarked,'lt was a altruistic love and transpersonal objectives'.12 During the follorving sessions. we visualisation, so why couldn't I even visualise To initiate these finalstages, the client discovered that Mr Freeze had also helped opening the door? I even felt a bit stupid! What is presented with an opportunity for their Rudy'freeze'any anger he had felt during his is this? If my imagination can't open the doot subpersonalities to interact. Numerous Iifetime. Unpacking and dealing with Rudy's how can I myself open the door?' techniques are used to allow for such past and present anger took some time, but Two weeks after Rudy flrst identifled interactions, including guided visualisation, by session 18 (Rudy had a lot of frozen anger Mr Freeze and Mr Fix-lt, he was able to role play, imaginary meetings, and/or letter to work through), we discovered and named identify each subpersonality's higher quality. writing from the observer to the subpersonality anothet more dominant subpersonality, Mr Freeze's higher quality was a deep and (and vice versa). Throughout these interactions, called Mr Fix-lt. Mr Fix-lt wanted everyone to sincere commitment when in a relationship; clients are encouraged to strengthen their be happy but (like Mr Freeze) he also needed Mr Fix-lt's higher quality was caring for others. role as the observer and, consequently, to to feel safe. He was happy when he could As Rudy said, referring to the drawing and the consciously and more creatively fulfll any fix everyone's problems but became angry box that Mr Fix-lt carried:'Care is the biggest conflicting subpersonality needs. and frustrated when he couldn't. Whenever and strongest tool in Mr Fix-lt's toolbox.' Last, clients are guided to assess, appreciate conflict arose around an unresolvable and come into relationship with the higher problem, Mr Fix-lt would become angry. Co-ordination and integration quality held by each of their subpersonalities. He would then immediately'fix'this anger Once Rudy was able to recognise and accept Once the need of each subpersonality has by repressing it and, in order to feel safe, his two subpersonalities, he was also able been met in a new creative way, clients are disconnect from the person whose problem(s) to start to observe what triggered their asked to reflect on, practise and observe their he could not flx. Rudy was able to recognise appearance and explore how to meet their expression of the subpersonality's higher this subpersonality in the unexpressed anger needs in new and more creative ways. For quality in the world. he had felt in his relationship with his former example, having accepted his Mr Freeze girlfriend. For example, in an attempt to'flx' subpersonality, Rudy was able to consciously Mr Freeze and Mr Fix-lt his relationship with her he had bought a choose not to attend large social gatherings Returning to Rudy, by the seventh session house and'fixed it up'. that required quick and spontaneous he had identified a subpersonality he called Rudy's overall feeling of being stuck was connections with other people, which Mr Freeze (flgure 1), who wanted to connect a manifestation of his blocked anger. This triggered his feelings of being unsafe. Instead, to others but needed space and time to feel connection between his unexpressed anger he went only to smallel more intimate functions where he could take his time to connect to others. He also began to invite The lion is waiting for friends to come with him, to provide the the door to open social safety net he felt he needed. Figure 2 The more dominant Mr Fix-lt subpersonality was more difficult to integrate as it required that Rudy also recognise, accept and co-ordinate his feelings of anger when Mr Fix-lt was unable to manage or repair a social situation. The key to learning to fulfll Mr Fix-lt's need for safety in a new way was to Iearn how to manage and express (that is,'to I flx') his anger other than by disconnecting. Gradually, Rudy was able to learn to stay connected to other people and to express his E anger in a manner that felt safe for him. For example, as Mr Fix-lt, he had volunteered to *r olo maintain all the laboratory equipment for his {r{k hoe department. During one session, we explored loo {o together how he was unable to express his 6 t.. ,ta*, anger in an appropriate way with a colleague t

THERAPYTODAY 31 |\4ARCH 2019 Presenting issues

Immediately after the session, when he 'I ?=FERENCES returned to the lab, the same colleague broke also learned that I

the same instrument again, providing Rudy ' . For a review, see Stuckey HL, Nobel J. -rhe with a new chance to express his anger with was s trylng to connection between art, healing, and crb ic health: a review of current literature. this colleague. Rudy later told me that, despite American Journal of Public Health 2010; initially feeling extremely angry, he had been t gs. n some 100 254-263. able to have 'a good talk [with his colleague] 2, Cole H, Sarnoff D. Creativity and counseling. The Personnel and Guidance and things are good between us now'. He also cases, I would Co Journal 1 980; November: 1 40-1 46. observed, 'l know now that I can still become 3. Frey DH. The anatomy of an idea: creativity in counseling. Personnel angry, but realise that it's because I cannot fix better to... ust care and Guidance Journal 1975; 54(1):23-27 . the situation or I don't agree with the ideas 4. Schubert DSB BiondiAM. Creativity being talked about. I am learning not to judge a out e person and mental health: part I - the image of the creative person as mentally ill. Journal my anger, but to judge how I express my anger.' of Creative Behaviour 197 5; 9 : 223-227. 5. Mansfield RS, Busse TV, Krepelka EJ. Activating synthesis The effectiveness of creativity training. Review of Educational Research 1 978; To work towards the ultimate stage of 48: 51 7-536. synthesis, I asked Rudy to reflect on, 6. Parnes SJ, Noller RB. Toward supersanity: channeled freedom. NY: practise and observe the expression of his Buffalo, DLK Pub ishers; 1973. subpersonalities' higher qualities in the world. 7. Carson DK. Counseling. ln: Runco Midway through the counselling sessions, and demotivated. Now I can see publications MA, Pritzker SR (eds). Encyclopaedia of creativity, volume 1. San Diego, CA: Rudy had started dating again and had that I can write using these data. I even Academic Press; 1999 (pp395-402). enrolled in a new dance class. A month before presented these data as a keynote speaker at a 8. Milenkovii S. Humour as a paradoxical our sessions ended, he bumped into his ex- conference. The data didn t change. I changed!' intervention in psychotherapy. lnternational Journal of Psychotherapy girlfriend at a party. He was able to approach Davis asserts that emotional barriers interfere 2007;11(3):56-65. and chat with her amiably, without feeling any r,vith creative thinking'by making us "freeze"'.r3 9. Rogers CR. On becoming a person. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin; 1961. anger, even though he sensed her aloofness. This phenomenon is easily recognisable in 10. Assagioli R. Psychosynthesis: a This encounter allowed Rudy to finally accept Rudy's Mr Freeze subpersonality and the collection of basic writings. Amherst, MA: the ending of their relationship. ultimate'unfreezing' of his scientific data from The Synthesis Center lnc; 2000. 1 1. Nguyen, T. Psychosynthesis: a way During Rudy's last meeting, he noted:'l don't being'rubbish' to having actual value. of openness. lnternational Journal of feel stucl< any more. I thought the reason I Finally: Rudy returned to the image of the Psychotherapy 2002; 1 6(2):20-28. was stuck was because I hadn't linished my lion rvaiting for the door to open. 'That was 12. Vargiu J. The theory: subpersonalities. Synthesis 1974; 1 (1 ): 52-90. relationship with mygirlfriend. Then I found a very strong, striking visualisation. Now I 13. Davis GA. Barriers to creativity and out I was really angry, and I didn't even want to am opening the door - wide open.l learned creative attitudes. ln: Runco MA, Pritzker SR (eds). Encyclopaedia of say that word. Now I can recognise situations that, if I feel stuck, there are ways to get creativity, volume 1 . San Diego, CA: Academic Press; 1999 where I freeze and can work with them. This myself unstuck.'Thus, Rudy's story shows (pp165-1 7a). frees up space in my mind. how by working with the subpersonality 'l also learned that I was always trying to fix model, creativity can be increased in things. In some cases, I would do better to... one's relationships with others and in just care about the person.Just to listen or one's personal and professional life. db say some comforting words. Now I recognise The subpersonality process is # situations where I am not responsibie for concerned with creatively bringing ! fixing things, but I can care. separate, often conflicting and opposite C.atherine Ann Lombard 'Coming into relationship with these inner subpersonalities into relationship and About the author subpersonalities and working with them gives ultimate synthesis. Rudy's story illustrates me more confidence.l f'eelmore connected how the psychosynthesis model enables Catherine Ann is a psychosynthesis to myself, my body and feelings. I really see clients to move away from their old patterns psycholog ist, practitioner a nd resea rcher. She received her MA in psychosynthesis that, when I am not connected to mysell I and solutions for managing inner and outer from the lnstitute of lose myself, and then I lose the connections conflicts and to learn. over time. new ways Psychosynthesis, London. She has to my work and to my relationships.' to engage more freely and creatively in published numerous scientific arlicles This new connection to his work was the world.l on psychosynthesis and specialises in evident in the fact that Rudy felt his research multiculturalism, as described in her was also no longer Stuck: 'l can nolv look at This draws on a recently published book From Culture Shock to Personal Transformation: studying abroad and past data and actually see that they work. article: Lombard CA, Muller BCN. Opening the search for meaning. She is currently writing But I used to think these data were rubbish. the door to creativity: psychosynthesis a a book about the subpersonality model. good They never looked enough because I approach. Journal of You can follow her bimonthly blog at didnt trust what I was doing. I felt frustrated 2018; (58)6: 6s9-688. LoveAndWill.com

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