2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43
In the case when the identification of the client's deep psychological problems is difficult due to the fact that they are pushed into the unconscious, a wonderful exercise can be used, which is often used by German psychotherapists, and in the Russian-language literature it was first described by the creator of emotional-figurative therapy N. D. Linde.
I will show the mechanism of its action by the example of working with a client Veronica, 30 years old (name changed, permission to publish received), who asked for help due to a strong inexplicable fear for her health, which she begins to experience when it comes to living together with a man. Because of this, she had already twice had to part with her lovers. Veronica could not recall any significant traumatic situations from the past that could have become the primary source of this fear. Relationships in the parental family are described as "normal, even".
I ask the client to close her eyes and imagine herself on the seashore, mentally approach the water's edge, gradually step into the water and immerse herself completely. If you wish, you can use imaginary equipment: scuba diving, flashlight, cable, etc. You need to dive to the depth at which it will be comfortable. I warn you that all the objects, plants, fish, animals that she sees on the way, will need to be remembered and then told about them. Anything you want to explore in the water can be explored on your own, remembering your emotions that arose while doing so.
The journey takes approximately five to seven minutes. One minute before the end, I warn you that it is time to end the journey. It is better to exit the exercise smoothly and return back in the same way that the person entered the water. From the shore, you need to mentally go back to the room, take a deep breath, stretch your arms over your head, with an exhalation lower your arms and open your eyes.
The image of the sea is the world of the unconscious. During such a journey, you can find many problems repressed from consciousness, which, however, have a huge impact on the present life and the psychological state of a person. These problems will be symbolized in one way or another.
For example, the following images are most common: shark (a dangerous woman, often a mother who shows aggression), a whale (father), an underwater king (father), an octopus (a domineering man or father), small fish (children), an underwater castle (parental family), a treasure chest (forgotten resources and feelings, often - pearl necklaces - symbols of femininity), dolphin (male friend), shell (woman), mermaid (teenage girl), seaweed (difficulties, obstacles), amphora (femininity), pearl (ovum), anchor (phallic symbol), turtle (crawling child), darkness (the area where what a person does not want to see, his fears is hidden), sunken ship (unfulfilled dream, project).
Veronica did not immediately dare to plunge into the water, which speaks of her fear of learning something about herself, and then, sharply plunging, the first thing she saw was a huge octopus, which tossed a beautiful shell with its tentacles, and then broke it in half, pulled it out of it pearl, examined it and threw it away. And then he threw the broken shell aside. Veronica said that, watching this scene, she felt strong fear, she wanted to hide.
When we analyzed the images, the girl remembered that when she was in about the second grade, the father (octopus) insisted that the mother (the shell) have an abortion (the pearl that the octopus pulls out of the shell), it was unsuccessful, and the mother's health was significantly undermined (broken shell). Conversations then, apparently, were conducted with the child, and, although the girl completely supplanted her memories, fear for her life and health appeared when the prospect of living together with a man and marriage arose.
When the cause of the fear that had tormented her for so long was found, Veronica said that she was already much less afraid, but asked to work with the “remnants of fear” during the next meeting. However, a few days later, the girl called and happily reported that the fear was completely gone.
Author: Gorshkova Maria Alekseevna
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