Low hanging fruit theory of Counselling
When to use the rewind method to de-traumatise in the first session of therapy and when to wait for greater clarification?
Quick results for Human Givens using the Rewind trance method
The metaphor of low hanging fruit is a powerful one. There they are – hanging pretty well within reach. And low hanging fruit tends to be ripe, even over ripe. So who can resist picking them off – before getting on with the serious job of clearing the whole tree.
Sometimes, therapy can be like that. There is trauma involved. And on the face of it, it all seems very clear. The memory of the trauma is easily accessed and the access brings out strong emotions. Indeed it often appears that the emotion is barely ever away.
My experience is that as with low handing fruit, it can be safe to pluck the fruit off some of the time. To undertake a Rewind de-traumatising there and then – in that first session of therapy.
But not always. There are times when Rewind has no effect or even worse, that it turns out to have been the wrong thing to do.
A bit like low hanging fruit really. Sometimes the fruit is not edible once it’s in your hand and very occasionally when you pull at the fruit – it does not come away cleanly in your hands. And makes a mess.
Three questions before picking that low hanging fruit there and then
When making the decision to immediately deal with what seems obvious trauma, I ask myself these three questions. And only if the answer is yes to all three will I contemplate a first session Rewind.
First, is the event recent – within a couple of years or less? For only then will the second order consequences of living with the trauma not itself have become a factor to be considered also.
Second, how was life before the trauma memory? I would only consider rewind there and then if there were no obvious problems and my client was living a life where most or all needs were being well met.
Third, is the trauma memory clear and easily imagined with an obvious beginning, middle and end? If it appears any more complicated than that – not imagined easily or messy and variable for the client, then be patient. Wait until you have found out more.
i will set tasks and undertake some light hypnotic work – around a reframe perhaps or to relax and calm. And see what has changed for that second session.
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