This is a simple technique to get a client out of his or her mind if they feel trapped within their own stream of thoughts. It proves to them the existence of the observer perspective (unbiased self-reflection) and gives them permission to exit a problematic mental state without needing any further excuse to distract themselves or use time-consuming escapism tactics.

The “self” is contextual-sometimes I am happy about my ideas and sometimes I am upset about them, and it might happen to be the very same idea that yesterday made me happy and today made me annoyed. The meta-level of the contextual self is the real self, the entity we might call “spirit” or “neshama” (in Jewish tradition). That is the observer perspective, the permanent, irreplaceable “I” that is above (meta) all the parts of the ego.

1.Sit up straight and take one deep breath, all the way in and all the way out.

Step 2: ”I am going to count silently from 30 to 0, and when I reach zero, I will tell you to stop, and you will tell me if you noticed that you can be a spectator of your mind-you were aware of your thoughts. #

All I’m asking you to do, while I could silently, is to take a step back and observe and listen to what’s going on inside your head.”

Step 3: Be silent for 30 seconds. #

Step 4: “Beyond the ramblings of your conscious mind, there is also a part of your mind that listens to the ramblings; it’s the observing self. #

That self is not a judge and it does not analyze the content of your thoughts; it is simply there, present. You can access it any time you feel overwhelmed by your thoughts. Just step back and watch and observe the silence in between the thoughts.”