Process oriented psychology
Process oriented psychology, otherwise known as Process Work, is the foundation of Trevor Edmond's approach to therapy and counselling. Trevor’s heartful and caring facilitation is found to be supportive of people believing in their perceptions and allowing their experiences to guide them in building a base of personal strength and courage from which they can meet the challenges and changes in their lives.
l About process oriented psychology l Applications
About
process oriented psychology
Process Oriented Psychology, more frequently referred to as Process Work
has roots in, among other traditions - Jungian Psychology, Taoism and Quantum
Physics.
Arnold Mindell PhD developed the concept of Dreambody work when he discovered the relationship between dreams and symptoms experienced in the body, relationship difficulties, addictions, altered states of consciousness and disturbances in society.
The dreamlike nature of these experiences were approached with care, sensitivity and openness and found to yield new insights and altered perceptions that were necessary for our development. Process Work, in practice, focuses on the awareness of what is emerging in the moment and the larger patterns that persist over time. By following nature we are led to wisdom that is innate within the disturbance to our sense of rightness or our belief about who we are and the world around us.
Process Work brings into awareness the tension between who we are and who we are becoming. This can have the appearance of reclaiming marginalised parts of ourselves or the birthing or becoming of the potential that was always there. More poetically stated it is the following nature’s path or River’s Way, the title of one or Arnold Mindell’s earliest publications.
At a personal level this struggle manifests in the things that disturb us or flirt with our attention. They may be night-time dreams, body symptoms, altered states, moods, addictions, phobias, relationship problems, conflict or things that seem to “happen” to us. These interruptions to the rhythm and flow of our day to day life or identity are seen as starting points or opportunities to explore those aspects of our identity we have marginalised, those aspects of our lives that need to be lived or dreams which are to be followed. In this way we are able to unfold the mystery of who we are. They are like threads we can follow in unfolding this mystery. They are also found to hold the key to our talents, gifts and skills needed on our journey.
Personal history, culture, beliefs and values can often be opposed to a life that is begging to be lived. These are often assumed as “given” and constitute what is “normal” or real. Most of us are convinced that we know who we are and who we are not. This conviction is part of the internal struggles and external conflicts. Process Work is an attitude behind the practice of bringing awareness to the relationships between these elements and the way in which our lives are creative, enriched, challenged when we follow these threads. This attitude is one which is open to whatever is trying to emerge in the moment and over a longer period of time. It is one of wonder and awe at the infinite tapestry of experience, of life and of nature. It is one of compassion for all on the awesome journey that we travel.
The links provided on this site will take you to sites of Drs Amy and Arnold Mindell and other practitioners of Process Work.
Applications
Process Work can be applied to a broad spectrum of human experience whether it is an individual or a group.
Some areas, in which Process Work has be found to be helpful are:
Relationships: love, friendships, colleagues, work, family.
Professional: change of profession, career dilemmas
Health: depression, addictions, panic attacks, chronic illness, moods, altered states, phobias, acute body symptoms
Process Work does not constitute a “treatment” or “a cure” for any of the problems or conditions. Clients are encouraged to seek appropriate medical care and treatment.