This photograph was taken at the book launch of my book on AOD. Three therapists all sitting together. The woman on the left was a psychologist who worked for many years. She specialised in working with children. After I completed my psychology degree I was fortunate enough for her to take me on as an …
Regression – defence mechanism & natural human process
The redecision therapy use of regression Regression is the return to an earlier childhood phase of a persons psychological development. It can be both a defence mechanism and a natural human process. As a defence mechanism when a person feels anxiety they cope with it by again feeling and thinking like they were a …
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The discipline transaction
That is of course a Critical Parent to Child transaction. A very difficult transaction to do well. And such a crucial one for parents to master
Treating dissociation in group therapy
It is harder to maintain the split in the personality and the dissociation is treated.
Seeking Free Child change
Successful psychotherapy usually involves the individual experiencing what they want (FC) and then devising a successful plan to get that.
Fantasy as a defence mechanism
Movies can be used as a form of fantasy defence. The observer does more than just watch the movie but feels they exist in it.
Maternal motivations and the Don’t be separate injunction
There has been found to be four common motivators for a mother to tell a child not to separate from her. This shows how the injunction comes from the mother’s own needy Child ego state wants and desires.
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The loneliness of the long distance therapist
I recall reading a book called The loneliness of the long distance runner. When I first saw this photograph of myself I thought of the phrase, The loneliness of the long distance therapist.
Homicide suicide decisions
In the search for a more robust definition or understanding of suicide it seems imperative to acknowledge the role that homicide can play in certain instances of suicide. As well as acknowledging the role accidents can play in the expression of suicidal ambivalence
Getting over it and A1 thinking
A1 Black and white thinking. She is a bad person for hurting me. Behaviour can be the person.
A2 thinking can understand that all people are good and some just have unproductive behaviour or behaviour that hurts others. Behaviour is bad not the person.
Reverse psychology as a therapeutic approach
I had refused to engage her RC therapy and instead suggested some Free Child activity we could do. Maybe that had allowed her to at last discover that her Free Child didn’t want to smoke anymore.
Working with the Conforming Child, Rebellious Child and Free Child ego states
In essence you begin to gain a bit of respect. If the Rebellious Child starts to
respect the counsellor as a person, then the individual becomes more receptive to
the therapeutic benefits of the counselling.
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Black and white thinking – Normal and abnormal.
The literature on black and white thinking often carries some confusion about the explanation of what it is. Or more correctly what are the underlying psychological causes that result in a person displaying this childlike type of thinking.
The descriptive model of ego states
The descriptive model of ego states sometimes also known as the functional model of ego states was originally presented by Eric Berne in his book “What Do You Say After You Say Hello”.