Source: Virginia Satir
This powerful pattern is especially effective when someone is experiencing an abusive but significant internal voice that has originated in the past, such as an over-criticizing parent or a bullying sibling.
Step 1: Recognize the internal voice and its core message. #
What does the voice tell you?
Step 2: Inquire its origin: “If that voice had a familiar body and face, if it were a person, who would that be? #
Step 3: Embed the voice into a vivid visual representation based on its physical location: “If X (the person they named) was in this room right now, where would he/she be exactly? #
Step 4: Ask the client to point to where that person’s voice is coming from in the space around them, and in which direction. #
Most likely, the face of the imaginary person is directed at them.
Step 5: Induce a light trance, and suggest: “I would like you now to imagine walking around behind X, right here in this room, and gently placing your left hand on his/her left shoulder and your right hand on his/her right shoulder, and nodding your head when you’ve done so. #
" Wonderful… now gently massage those shoulders. As you do so, lean forward and whisper into his or her left ear, close enough so he/she can hear you, and say, “Just let go and relax. Let it go. I am fine, everything is OK, you can relax… now, even deeper… all the way down.”
Step 6: Allow the client to have a few moments of silence so they can fully experience the kinesthetic sensations of this trance. #
The client may burst into tears or show other signs of discomfort for a little while. These are reactions that should be expected and welcomed.