Experiments Les Wyman

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Brendan Kennedy
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1 Experiments Les Wyman Introduction: This material describes two types of experiments that are implemented for different purposes and within two places in a Unit of Work. In Gestalt practice: We believe that present behavior and functionality is a combination of psychological and physical phenomenon: how one thinks and behaves as influenced by thoughts, recurring self and interpersonal processes that have been and are adaptive and the development of physical characteristics (body stance, posture, muscular development, etc.). Changes in functioning require modifications of thoughts, behavior and the physical characteristics that support present functioning. We place emphasis upon supporting the totality of these characteristics in strategies for individual and systemic (couples, families, groups) change. The Unit of Work is a strategy for change within our Gestalt practice model. This strategy is based upon mutual determinations of motivation for change. The uses of awareness and thematic experiments are within this strategy for change. PROCESS ORIENTATION Any content issue can be problematic for someone depending upon the processes they use to deal with the issue. A therapist is therefore most interested when the client s processes produce recurring patterns of stuckness rather than the client using processes that digest an issue through to completion/resolution. CONTACT STYLES AS MODULATORS OF CONTACT Creative improvisation and adaptation to the present situation is accomplished through the continuous uses of contact style modulators. These are behavioral and psychological adjustments used much as one s eye muscles adapt to increasing and decreasing light. In this way maintaining parity between the size of the opening of the pupils and the amount of light that the eye can tolerate. Adaptive processes form patterns of functioning and maintain one within some established zones of safety and avoidance of zones of unsafety. Changes are most often sought when ones adaptive zone of safety is so constrictive a box as to limit satisfaction and need/want fulfillment. Wyman-Exper &list 08A24 1/8

2 Theme statements are developed based upon a mutually agreed upon (Between client and practitioner) awareness of the client s satisfactions, dissatisfactions and the process he/she uses to maintain this status quo. Thematic experiments are means to broaden one s box in order to provide greater latitude to pursue need/want satisfactions. Goals of Experiments Increase client s behavior repertoire Create conditions or client to see self as is/her own creation, i.e., ownership Stimulate experiential learning Stimulate new self awareness and consciousness Awaken and enliven traditional ways of doing and being Complete unfinished situations Overcome or explore blockages in cycling by: owning projections, exploring misplaced emotions, integrate introjections, etc. Integrate cognitive with proprioceptive/motoric/behavioral Discover/work polarities Create situation or new behavior/new experiences for self, e.g., assertiveness, passivity, ranges of compulsivity/impulsivity Zinker, Creative Process in Gestalt Therapy. P 126 Awareness Experiments An awareness experiment is one whose purpose is to increase awareness and is generally used when there is insufficient awareness of some behavior or process to mobilize interest or energy to support action. Awareness experiments are generally implemented during the awareness and energy building phases of the Unit of Work. Thematic Experiments A thematic experiment requires sufficient awareness of some thematic, recurring patterns of behavior and sufficient interest and energy to support change activity. Thematic experiments are generally implemented after a theme statement and during the enactment phase of the Unit of Work. Type of experiment Awareness Experiments Thematic Experiments Purpose Increase awareness & Promote change in a increase arousal and energy recurring process Placement in a Unit of Work During the early phases of Following the development development of ground, of awareness and interest in Wyman-Exper &list 08A24 2/8

3 selecting figures, agreeing upon figures of interest. recurring and thematic processes that influence contact and functionality. Experiments within a Unit of Work require: 1. Grounding 2. Clarity 3. Grading 4. Consent 5. Action 6. Closure 7. Follow-up ROLES OF THERAPIST IN EXPERIMENTAL WORK DIRECTOR NEGOTIATOR PARTICIPANT COMPANION MENTOR EVOCATOR ADVISOR ORIENTOR SUPPORTER CHALLENGER CHEERLEADER COACH COCHLEFFLE Definition:(Coch=a cooking pot, Leffle=Mixing spoon, hence a person who is a Cochleffle is one who, like a mixing spoon, stirs up the mixture. ) OTHER Forms of experiment Dramatization Directed behavior Enactments Fantasy Dreams Homework WORK CONTENT The content of the therapeutic work may include: Unfinished business from the recent or distant past. Disowned characteristics of self. Wyman-Exper &list 08A24 3/8

4 Underdeveloped polarities. Unfamiliar or dreaded social roles. Movements, gestures, voice characteristics, etc. that extend the present range of safe behaviors.. Visualizations of people, circumstances, heroes, villains, etc. Imaginings of situations, e.g. if such and such were true, then... Exploring roads not taken. Wyman-Exper &list 08A24 4/8

5 Wyman-Exper &list 08A24 5/8 TOP SECRET* OFFICIAL LIST OF EXPERIMENTS ISSUED ONLY TO GIC STUDENTS-NOT FOR DUPLICATION N.B. The paper that this list is printed upon is specially treated to self-destruct if placed in a copying machine. Each of the following can be utilized and modified as either awareness experiments or thematic experiments. When working with sufficiently sophisticated clients, it is possible to contract for experimental work by referring to the experiments by number only, e.g. "Let's do a number " This increases efficiency of communication and allows for more work to get done in a session. The following is the OFFICIAL LIST: PROJECTIVE WORK Empty chair Place "self" in empty chair Place father in empty chair Place mother in empty chair Place miscellaneous others in empty chair Place a dish of chocolate pudding in the chair TWO CHAIR WORK Two chairs with polarities of self in chairs Two chairs with "actual father" and "idealized father" Two chairs with "actual mother" and "idealized mother" Two chairs with "actual other" and "idealized other" DIRECTED BEHAVIORS: Therapist directs and coaches client to extend behavior Therapist directs and coaches client to extend behavior in "desired" direction Therapist directs and coaches client to extend behavior in "dreaded" direction PAST EVENT (PE) work Client remembers PE and tells therapist of the experience of remembering the PE Client tells story of PE as if narrating an event occurring to someone else As while adding an alternative ending Client narrates the PE as if it were happening in the here and now As while adding an alternative ending.

6 12.04 Client reenacts the events of the PE, acting out various parts and attends to his/her experience while doing so As while adding an alternative ending Client directs others in an enactment of the PE As in while adding an alternative ending. N.B.: Alternative endings can be of the desired type or fearful type DREAM WORK Client remembers dream and describes to the therapist his/her experience while remembering the dream Client tells story as if narrating an event occurring to someone else As while adding an alternative ending Client tells dream as if it were happening in the here and now As while adding an alternative ending Client reenacts the events of the dream, acting out various parts and attends to and describes his/her experience while doing so As while adding an alternative ending Client directs others in an enactment of the dream As while adding an alternative ending. N.B. Alternative endings can be of the fearful type or the desired type METAPHOR WORK Creation of a metaphor by the therapist. The client tries it on as if trying on an article of clothing, e.g., a new coat Creation of a metaphor by the client. The client tries it on as if trying on an article of clothing, e.g., a new coat Creation of a metaphor by others. The client tries it on as if trying on an article of clothing, e.g., a new coat STORY WORK Therapist creates a story Client creates a story Others create a story AGGRESSION WORK Caution: Client have broken bones and injured themselves in this kind of work and therapists have been sued for failing to provide sufficient safeguards Client strikes out without contact with an object As in with accompanying sound effects. Wyman-Exper &list 08A24 6/8

7 30.02 Client strikes soft yielding object, e.g. pillows As in with sound effects Client aggressively engages therapist with adequate safeguards, e.g. pillow between therapist and client As in with sound effects HOMEWORK Homework that repeats experimental work carried out in the session Homework that extends experimental work carried out in the session. *Source of these secret experiments: Archivists discovered such a list, scribbled in pencil on old IBM data punch cards, reportedly in F. Perls handwriting, with the notation, This stuff will really get these guys going! WORK CONTENT The content of the work may include: Unfinished business from the past. Unfinished business from the recent past. Characteristics of self that are disowned. Polarities that are underdeveloped. Unfamiliar or dreaded social roles. Movements, gestures, voice characteristics, etc. that extend the present range. Visualizations of people, circumstances, heroes, villains, etc. Imaginings of situations, e.g. if such and such were true, then... EXPERIMENTS: CONTENT, PROCESS, AWARENESS, AND THEMATIC AWARENESS THEMATIC. CONTENT PROCESS I think I am a victim. Use of awareness experiment to organize sensational data into a figure, e.g., this is what its like to be a victim I see how I become an aggressive victim that includes those behaviors and attitudes for which I I think I am a victim and know that this experience is recurring. Use of awareness experiment to organize sensational data into a figure, e.g., this is what its like to be a victim and recognizing its recurring nature. I see how I become an aggressive victim, which includes those behaviors and attitudes for which I Wyman-Exper &list 08A24 7/8

8 am responsible and those of others. Awareness experiments that organize data into recognitions of the processes that produce this experience of being an aggressive victim. am responsible and those of others. I experiment with behaviors that support me to behave differently. Using awarenesses that organize data into recognitions of the processes that produce this experience of victim, experimenting with behaviors that alter the aggressive victim experience. When working with sufficiently sophisticated clients, it is possible to contract for experimental work by referring to the experiments by number only, e.g. "Let's do a number " This increases efficiency of communication and allows for more efficient and productive work in a session. Some therapists increase their fees for this higher level of work. Readings: Gestalt Therapy Integrated, Chapter 9 Creative Process, Chapter 6 Gestalt Reconsidered, Pp93-99 Gestalt Therapy: Pers. & Ap. Chapter 10,5 Wyman-Exper &list 08A24 8/8

Defining principles of Strategic family therapy

Roselyne Kattar Psychologist and coach http://www.coaching-kattar.com 1 Defining principles of Strategic family therapy Strategic therapy focuses on present observable behavioral interaction and uses deliberate