Twig's SE Reflections

Play Episode 74 Here

The consistency of our signal and feedback to our clients is key to helping them get to know us and our work quickly. The more random, confused or inconsistent our requests the harder it is for our clients to find security and success in our offices. This reflection doesn't go into all the nuances behind helping our clients get to know our work but it does look at this issue of consistency and offers a few ideas on where to apply it.

Play Episode 73 Here

From the first contact we're learning things that will matter later in the session. The more we acknowledge that we're actually trying to get to know our client's quickly, the better we'll get at it. This episode includes some storytelling from the field in DR Congo where my ability to get to know my client quickly made all the difference.

Play Episode 72 Here

There are occasions when it's problematic if our client's "fall away" or "go to sleep" during our sessions. However most of the time it's an honor and potentially a very good sign when a client "let's go" in our presence. Letting down in the company of a member of our own species is a mammalian expectation and not always easily achieved by some of our clients (or ourselves). This episode looks at a few considerations involved in what helps, and hinders, people from letting go near us.

Play Episode 71 Here

Silence is a critical and natural part of SE sessions. And yet sometimes it can go on too long.

The client can sit there in silence while you explain things excessively.You as the clinician can sit there in silence while your client talks and talks endlessly.The two of you can sit in awkward silence not knowing what to say next after you ask "what do you notice now?"Worst yet, sometimes in Freeze/DVC phases the silence can become terminal and reinforce the stuck state.

In this episode I look at some of the dynamics of allowing silence to go on too long: including internal critical dialogue of the practitioner, consequences of allowing too much silence and some solutions to avoid it being problematic.

Play Episode 70 Here

To work eyes open or closed? That is the question. Rather than one way being "right" and the other "wrong," there are times when one or the other is more appropriate with a continuum between the extremes. This episode looks at some of the dynamics behind when we're better off to help our client's keep their eyes open and when it only makes sense to let them close.

Play Episode 69 Here

A common challenge for SE Practitioners is accommodating clients who have high expectations for the success (or failure) of this work. Too often immediate demands from either the client or practitioner curtails curiosity, participation and permission to engage with a process that necessarily takes time to develop and unfold. In this episode I look at some of the considerations we can hold while accommodating high expectations in our office.

Note: Unfortunately the recoding of this episode included a background buzz that I'm unable to eliminate. This will probably make listening through earbuds or headphones unpleasant. My apologies for that. I'm still learning. I appreciate your patience. - Twig

Play Episode 68 Here

Learning new things takes time. You need to experiment with all kinds of different combinations, try different things out, take note inside yourself on what works and what doesn't. Such things take time.

Like learning the nuances of a new landscape or city. The local resident has a dozen tricks for getting to the airport on time. The visitor or newbie needs to give extra time for getting stuck in traffic because they simply don't know the secret way. So too with learning a craft like Somatic Experiencing. There are a dozen routes to where you want to go, but you'll need to put some time and attention into learning where you're likely to get stuck and where you found the goods. This episode offers some encouragement to let yourself experiment along the way while you learn this new terrain.

Play Episode 67 Here

Without a doubt, some sessions are smoother than others. Some work "like magic" while others can be a long slow torment for clients and practitioners alike. One thing to do is ask what the smooth sessions have in common and what attributes therein can be cultivated to make all sessions ring with a bit more satisfaction. This episode looks at a number of these "positive deviancy" elements that we'd like to see everywhere.

The Themes in this podcast have matured in this program...

Play Episode 66 Here

Today is January 1st, 2016. In celebration of starting another calendar year I've offered up a little meditation on Looking Back and Looking Forward. To get where we'd like to go is always a process. Things take time. Today you're not troubled by at least some things you found excruciating 5 years ago. Same too with skills and smoothness of execution in our SE sessions. We get better at these things over time. That includes coming through where we were before to where we are now and only then where we'll go next. It's a journey. The New Year is a time I like to see where I'm at along the way. Maybe you too.

Note: Sorry but for some reason iTunes isn't update as normal so you're probably only seeing this if it's fixed or you came to www.liberationispossible.org. I'll get that fixed soon but not this moment.

Summary: A short message out of the Winter Silence I've stumbled into as Solstice Season has come on. I'll look forward to being back with more SE Reflections podcast episodes on January 1st.

Wishing you all a safe and gentle holiday season.

https://vimeo.com/149810598