[Audio Only] BT06 Workshop 13 – The Problem is the Solution: Symptoms as Identity Transformers – Stephen Gilligan, PhD

Description:Description:

A key idea in Milton Erickson’s work was that a person’s problematic experiences and behaviors can be skillfully accepted and utilized as the basis for therapeutic change. Self-relations psychotherapy develops this idea further, emphasizing symptoms as indicating the death of an old identity and the impending birth of a new identity. Thus, we don’t try to “get rid of” depression, anxiety, or “acting out/acting in” expressions, but instead invite them into a human relationship of “sponsorship”, where their healing and helpful nature may be realized. We will see how a therapist can generate a ritual space where symptoms and other disturbing experiences can be “midwifed” into new identities.A key idea in Milton Erickson’s work was that a person’s problematic experiences and behaviors can be skillfully accepted and utilized as the basis for therapeutic change. Self-relations psychotherapy develops this idea further, emphasizing symptoms as indicating the death of an old identity and the impending birth of a new identity. Thus, we don’t try to “get rid of” depression, anxiety, or “acting out/acting in” expressions, but instead invite them into a human relationship of “sponsorship”, where their healing and helpful nature may be realized. We will see how a therapist can generate a ritual space where symptoms and other disturbing experiences can be “midwifed” into new identities.

Educational Objectives:Educational Objectives:

1. To name the basic principles and methods of self-relations psychotherapy. To name the basic principles and methods of self-relations psychotherapy.
2. To describe how these methods might be used to transform symptoms into positive solutions and resources. To describe how these methods might be used to transform symptoms into positive solutions and resources.

*Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality**Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality*