Working with a Symbol

Working with a symbol

0. What drew you to this symbol? E.g. Shane Warne had a lot of energy in a dream

1. Gather information and amplify meanings, feelings, areas of change. Tell me more about … Clarify and find meaning for the person How do you feel about … What does “a lot of skill mean to you?” What does … remind you of? Anything else

2. Bring the symbol in. Can we bring the symbol in? (safety) Where is … now? You can move it any time. Do you want to stand, me to stand? i.e. allow client to set the scene. Tell … where you are at / What is … response? Visual – what does it look like – detail. Emotion – how do you feel about … Somatics – where do you feel that on your body. Note the clients language. Do you need to tell … anything else? How is it to sit here with …? Do you need any support? (e.g. another symbol) Anything else?

3. Embodiment bodily, visually, feelings. Move your body to align with the symbol / get close to … qualities What’s it like to be bright red with yellow spots? What do you notice, what is important, stands out? What are you getting from being (like that)? Dialogue/let symbol express its truth Would you like to tell Colin anything? / What’s his response? What is the opposite feeling to that? Explore the other pole e.g., being serious rather than a larrikin (Shane Warne) Exaggerate a quality to feel it more What’s missing here? Hmm, I wonder if one can embody a feeling, probably yes – any comments? Anything else (needs to be said)?

4. Completion Exit the character/return to self – Let client do this in their own time. “Just gather yourself.” Have you left Shane over there? Or what shall we do with Shane? Reflection/making sense of experience: How is it to be back? Where does this leave you? How was that (they may not have the language)? What’s still to be explored? Working with a dream

Two chair techniques works best with a dissonance, but works anyway for a dialogue between two parts not including the dreamer. Maybe put a symbol for each part on each chair. Use where: There is a polarity Two (dissonant) themes Two (dissonant) parts to a character Two symbols with energy

Polarities Where there are opposites that dialogue e.g. Shane’s couldn’t give a stuff to my intellectual/logical stance/ Conflicts – bit like two chairs

Active imagination Dream ego dialogues with a character.

Focus on a symbol Stop and work any time in this way as needed

Support symbol bring in as necessary Policeman husband stands beside client who is anxious on a train. Child Wound Critic* Currency Transpersonal Themes Pain Not good enough Need to belong Alignment Wonder Bleeding Shame Overcompensation Empowerment Energetic Hurt Judgement Fitting in Unafraid Alive Powerless Fear* (always Recognition Pure/whole Dependence Rejection beneath) Buy because inadequate Connected Spontaneous Broken Protection Using a strength to be liked Grace Trust Fragmented Restriction Not loved for me, so I buy it At one Joy Ill Contracts Honed skill - I'm good at. Unlimited Injured Weighs down Magic Terror Unlovable Destruction Should/must Loss Restriction*

Needs Needs Needs Needs Needs Acceptance Holding for a long time Safety Reassure Stillness Validation Tending What is frightening?? Loveable for themselves Mirroring Love Attention Love Met Surrender Encouragement Love Boundaries Unconditional positive regard Therapist (or client) Care Acceptance It OK to be me I’ll like you even if you are … walk the journey Imagination Acknowledgement* Accepting Not judged see my potential Therapist must Compassion Reassurance sense my soul access child energy Empathy Feel the fear say "Yes!" to be seen and heard Incremental movement hold this space with therapist support Kindness Humanity Embrace life Nimbin/Byron Wound can become currency, e.g. a victim