the patient or therapist asks the subconscious to treat painful or problematic issues.
This tale started in October 1991. By 1994, I was teaching the Process Healing Method to my patients by modeling the tapping treatment process. At first, I physically showed each of the acupressure treatment points to the subconscious, point by point. Now, a 30-second metaphor, which always works, teaches the treatment process. The next chapter, Chapter 2, introduces and gives an overview of the theory and procedure of Process Healing. It includes a transcript of the first session of the Process Healing Method and several examples of treatment interventions. Chapter 3 describes the entire basic procedure for getting all parts on the Treatment Team and teaching the subconscious the treatment method. The procedure to obtain rapport with the subconscious and all parts is now routine. In Chapter 4, I give detailed examples of many useful treatment interventions and aids. I use these treatment interventions routinely with most patients.
The theory of the development of the personality and memory structures is presented in Chapter 5. This is the most challenging chapter in the book. This knowledge is useful when problem-solving new structures and finding solutions for complex personality issues. Chapter 6 will teach you how to problem-solve and resolve difficult or complex barriers to treatment. Many readers won’t have to solve complex problems, but the interventions are included for those who do. Chapter 7 describes the treatment of dissociative and amnesic parts and all the complexities that can arise when treating parts. Chapter 8 introduces the more complex features of memory, namely memory structures and other constructs. These structures and constructs were discovered while solving patients’ issues and are frequently found to be the cause of problematic behavior and unusual experiences. Chapter 9 describes many treatments that are useful for relatively simple issues. Chapter 10 focuses on several complex disorders like depression, addictions, obsessive-compulsive behavior, psychotic behavior, and so forth. Chapters 9 and 10 are written primarily for therapists.
Now you know how my patients taught me and helped me learn a new respectful and effective treatment intervention. For those who have read some books about psychology and have opinions about brain, mind, and behavior, I want to point out what I think may be a paradigm shift for some readers. If you can suspend your previous learning and research-based ideas and accept the clinically based truisms presented here, this book offers a refreshing description of the development of the personality and explanations for complex mental issues. Here are what I consider to be the major shifts in beliefs.
1. The subconscious is accessible in everyone. It is not the unconscious. The subconscious is a unique process, with whom a therapist can communicate.
2. Dormant memories are available to be triggered into activity in the conscious or unconscious. They are not located in the unconscious.
3. Behavior and all brain activity are collages assembled from previously learned memories active in the conscious and unconscious.
4. Dissociation causes the conscious and unconscious experience of active memories.
5. Memories that are dissociated and cause intrusions are different than amnesic parts. They are more like dissociated skills and, most importantly, don’t have executive function. Amnesic parts, on the other hand, are compartmentalized memory structures (Blizard, et al., 2005) created in novel, severe trauma who have executive function.
6. Different processes cause dissociative and amnesic parts.
I hope you find this book both fascinating and useful, personally or professionally.
Chapter 2: An Introduction to the Process Healing Method
The Process Healing treatment method was discovered in 1994. Since then, it has gradually developed and become more respectful, better organized, and more systematic. Based on science and clinical experience, Process Healing is essentially an Education Process. I teach patients how all aspects or parts of the personality and subconscious are normal and develop from conception to the present. This chapter gives an outline of the treatment method and includes a scripted session to give you the feeling of how the method works. If you have any problems with the vocabulary, Appendix III is an alphabetical glossary and Appendix IV is a glossary of new concepts.
Here is a brief outline of how Process Healing works. The example consists of a script of the conversation between the therapist and the patient’s or reader’s subconscious. This text becomes the therapist for the patient. The therapist first educates and works with all aspects of the patient’s personality to convince the aspects to want treatment. This approach is respectful to the patient and builds trust between the therapist and patient. This is called the Education Process. During this process, the reader or patient learns a way to communicate with his or her subconscious and aspects of his or her personality. When all aspects are on the Treatment Team and give permission, the therapist then teaches the patient’s subconscious how to treat painful emotions. At this point, the patient or therapist is ready to ask the subconscious to use the treatment process to treat painful or difficult problems.
The Education Process — Establishing Rapport
The Treatment Team and treatment
A key feature of the Process Healing Method is the internal Treatment Team (Satir, 1972). The Treatment Team notion is introduced to organize all parts of the personality into a cooperative group. Arranging for parts to cooperate is a major asset for the treatment process. It makes the treatment process safer and easier with fewer problems. It is always necessary to discuss the reasons for treatment and to resolve the barriers to treatment in order to get all parts to join the Treatment Team. A common barrier is the fear of re-experiencing trauma emotions. I present a strategy for safely treating extreme emotions. This strategy will be explained later in this chapter. Next, I describe the mechanics of integrating or joining parts with the Main Personality. I point out that the subconscious will strengthen all positive coping behavior with positive emotions so no assets are lost. At some point, I make a double check to see that all parts are on the Treatment Team and all want the subconscious to learn the treatment process. After one final check, I teach the subconscious how to treat trauma.
When therapists work with the subconscious and inner processes, they use metaphors. There are many different metaphors to treat people. I assume that all change activity in people is the same but the metaphors are different. I use a metaphor to teach the subconscious how to do the treatment process. Then I have the patient identify a simple phobia or moderately painful belief or memory to be used by the subconscious to practice diagnosis, to form a treatment plan, and to execute the treatment process. Then, I ask the subconscious to treat the practice issue and remove the negative emotions associated with that issue. As the treatment process occurs, the patient may feel the pain of the issue gradually diminish in intensity. The subconscious becomes an ally in therapy by analyzing treatment issues and directing treatment.
Memory — Dormant or active
Before I continue, I want to tell you about dormant and active memories. Memories are either dormant or active. Dormant memories are potentially active, but not experienced. Dormant memories are ready to be triggered into the Active Experience. Active memories, on the other hand, are in what I call the Active Experience. The Active Experience includes both the active conscious and unconscious memories. The active memories contribute to creating behavior. Some of the active memories in the Active Experience combine to create behavior by evoking a response from the body. Changes in the person’s environment are represented in the Active Experience. A change in the environment triggers or activates other relevant memories that can combine to create the next response. Other memories become dormant.
For example, I am going to ask a question and you will know the answer. The dormant answer
