Trusting the unconscious

• Erickson Anxiety by dave pakenham(dodge county,WI), 8/22/97
  • Erickson in Trance by Jeffrey Zeig, 8/26/97
    • Example of trusting my unconscious by Diane Kistner, 5/23/98
      
      

Erickson got a lot of mileage out of meeting patients in their life situation. Therapy should not be confined to the consulting room. Therapy happens in life.

Erickson also had faith: He had faith in his ability to elicit solutions. He had faith in his patient's ability to access unrealized potentials for change. By getting in touch with the patients "essential position," you could access valuable intuitions that could help your patient access her own faith in her abilities.

Carl Whitaker used to quip that he had to cajole his residents into trusting their "baby thoughts," the little intuitions that they squelched due to uncertainties and insecurities. As I have matured as a therapist, I have had the courage to voice those baby thoughts. Seems that you have too, Diane.

Thanks for sharing your case on the forum.

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