Posted by Pfinstegg on February 23, 2006, at 19:34:31
For about the first two years of analysis, the sessions were either about what I was thinking or feeling at the moment (which sometimes took 20 minutes to say), or about all the things going on between my analyst and me- an absolute minefield of anxiety!. We know so much of this so well by now, and the dread and anxiety surrounding much of it all has diminished. So my analyst began asking more about each ego-state's knowledge of the other ego-states. I didn't realize that they weren't very aware of one another- and didn't want to know, either. There's just one present at a given moment. But he persisted, and we have gradually developed "family meetings". All the parts get to say what they think, feel and know, and then he inquires what the other parts think about it. Before a session ends, he asks each one to say what it would like to have happen- just to imagine it with him, and to make sure all the parts know what each one wishes. I am supposed to respect each one- no matter what. Then he might say, "OK, they are here- now we can all sit back as if we were watching a movie, and see what happens to everyone. It is always so good- and so comforting; of course, he becomes the central member of the family, and so all the parts have wonderful interactons with him in the scenarios.
We never did anything like this until reently; I guess we had to bring the parts up from under all my fear and repression. And I know it sounds kind of silly. But it isn't; it's extremely helpful! I'm starting to do it automatically, on my own, when I become anxious or depressed. It works every time if I'm willing to put in the time and listen to the painful things the parts have to say.
poster:Pfinstegg
thread:612620
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060211/msgs/612620.html