How do you imagine a consultation with a psychologist? Cozy cabinet, comfortable chair, comfortable situation. But what if you were offered to consult, for example, in the cemetery? And at the same time, there would be no change in the changes for years? Stories from the practice of a psychologist could become scripts for the new series of the trigger project.
Psychotherapy is usually a long process. This is what stops many people who doubt whether to contact a specialist. But imagine that you were offered a quick way to solve the problem. However, for this you need to perform actions that would cause strong, extreme emotions. This is what happens when psychologists use a method called “behavioral experiment”.
A similar method was presented in the series “Trigger”. In it, the main character – a psychologist – uses various non -standard and effective techniques. On the screen, everything looks shocking and interesting. But in order to test such a thing in reality, a person must have a serious motivation and a certain share of courage. And the experiment must conduct a qualified specialist.
The purpose of the behavioral experiment is to refute the irrational attitudes that underlie many of our problems. And, of course, get a new positive experience.
How it works? Let’s look at stories from practice.
Scare to “cure”
Alla, 41 years old. Chief accountant in an international company.
Request
“Everything is fine with me – my favorite job, strong family, high salary. I can afford a lot. But I do not feel positive emotions, happiness, nothing pleases. It seems that I completely lost my desire to live, to do something “.
In an attempt to become happy, Alla passed a lot of marathons, turned to astrologers, went to retrites, engaged in yoga and meditation, worked with a coach. She was tired of trying to change something and is ready for anything, just to enjoy life again.
Behavioral experiment
The psychologist receives consent to conduct a behavioral experiment and asks the question of Alla’s favorite colors and what toast each of the family members would say at her birthday. He promises to send the next meeting in the message. Alla comes at the appointed time. The psychologist is already waiting for her in place and offers to walk a little.
Passing by the cemetery, the psychologist wraps up to the main entrance. Alla is surprised, but follows him. They silently pass along the main alley, approach one of the fresh graves. On the grave, the favorite flowers of Alla – Lilia. On a wreath – ribbons with words from loved ones. On the tombstone of her photo and dates of death. The psychologist says: “Sorry for the girl. So much could have time “. Shock. Tears. Alla understands: “I want to live!”
The behavioral experiment contrasts the old undesirable installation of a new real situation. A person receives experience that can be based on the subsequent. In the case of Alla, the idea of the meaninglessness of
life is contrasted by the defeated death. Against the background of a stressful situation, Alla receives a new rational conviction: life is valuable, I want to do a lot more.
The magic path
Alexander, 36 years old. The owner of the construction company.
Request
“When I leave one from home, I am covered by strong fear, and I am afraid that a panic attack will happen. If I need to go out, I ask an ex -wife or mother to accompany me. In extreme cases, if no one can leave with me, I take a sedative with me and lay the route strictly through hospitals in case something happens. This extremely complicates my life: I can’t work normally, go on a date or sign up for fitness ”.
Alexander for the first time turns to a psychologist and counts on a miracle. And he wants a miracle right away. The psychologist changes his voice, adding “mystery” to the intonation, and offers one very effective technique that can help get rid of fear.
Behavioral experiment
To do this, you need to buy some things from the list and come to a strictly defined place without having soothing pills. Alexander agrees. He buys objects from the list: brushes, paints and paper. On the appointed day, he leaves, guided by the coordinates from the message.
When Alexander remains 8 kilometers to the meeting place, the road suddenly ends. He goes through the forest – one, without pills. On the spot, the psychologist offers to decompose everything that he brought to him, and, using the things brought with him, depict his desired condition on paper. The experiment was conducted.
A person does not always understand that the experiment has a transforming component. If the psychologist simply asked Alexander every day to go outside, he would not have done it. Therefore, the psychologist shifts the focus of counseling.
Possessing magical thinking and anticipating mysterious technique, Alexander alone and without pills passed eight kilometers through the forest. His irrational installation was this: “To be alone – life threatening. I can’t handle it “. Now he can rely on a new experience: “It was – and nothing terrible happened”.
Vacation means “let go”
Olga, 36 years old. The owner of the production company.
Request
“I feel constant anxiety, always in tension. I constantly think about business: I can’t leave it for a day, delegate my tasks to others. Because of this, I keep everything under control, I can’t rest. If we loosen the grip, I will lose money or business. To be left without money for me is the worst, because without them I cannot be happy. Without my status, I am generally nobody “.
Olga does not really believe in the result of counseling. She has already unsuccessfully addressed several psychologists and believes that “just conversations” are not for her. She is a businesswoman, and therefore wants a quick result in the shortest possible time. Remembering childhood, Olga speaks of a large flower garden under the window of a parental apartment;Cozy evenings with a warm glass of milk, the smell of fresh pastries on Saturday morning.
Behavioral experiment
The psychologist offers to conduct an experiment and take a week’s vacation. On the first day you need to meet her, she reports the address at the last moment. Olga should take home clothes, personal hygiene products and 2 sets of everyday clothes. Jewelry, money and phone is forbidden to take with you.
On the appointed day, Olga arrives at the address, completing all the instructions. The psychologist invites her to a one -room apartment, gives 10,000 rubles, an inexpensive phone with a new number and the address of the flower shop near the house. There Olga is waiting for work from tomorrow. Under the terms of the experiment, Olga should work in it for five days out of seven, not to contact the employees of her company, not go to social networks and spend no more than 10,000 rubles for the entire week.
Olga fulfills all the instructions and returns home. At a meeting with a psychologist, she seems happy. She liked working with a florist so much that she seriously thinks to open her flower store. There was enough money for food, and nothing happened to the business during its absence.
In this experiment, Olga’s belief “Without money I cannot be happy, I am nobody” was refuted by new experience. She was engaged in what she used to liked: she made bouquets, spent freely with people, drank warm milk for the night, and even baked pie on Saturday. “Paradoxical, but for the first time I was very happy in a long time, although I had neither money nor the usual professional activity at that moment. During my absence, nothing happened to my company, ”says Olga.
In the spotlight
Elena, 36 years old. Senior Specialist.
Request
“I was offered a promotion, and I really want to agree. The fear of public speaking is the only thing that stops me. When I find myself in the spotlight even a few people, I begin to worry hard. It seems to me that others notice my excitement, consider me unprofessional, stupid and weak. From this I am even more fuel. The new position involves regular performances – this stops me from agreeing. You need to quickly solve something “.
Behavioral experiment
The next day, the psychologist invites Elena to a conference-Hall to a lecture on public speaking. At the appointed time, both are located in the hall among several dozen spectators. The event begins, the speaker on stage is worried. He talks about his excitement and the difficulties that it brings him. Spectators support the acting applause and approval comments.
Then the psychologist gives Elena the text and says that now her exit and you need to read the text from the sheet. Elena is worried, but the supporting atmosphere gives her self -confidence. The text read by Elena was about her fear to act and excitement. Sometimes she asked questions to the hall, and the audience had to raise her hand if they believed that she was stupid, funny, weak. But no one raised his hands. And every time Elena became more confident.
In this experiment, a woman received a new positive response from others. She performed, as before, but the audience refuted her catastrophic thoughts about her “shame”. Elena, in turn, gained experience in evaluating other speakers. Empage and desire to support, which she felt, went against her own idea of hostility and condemnation.
So simple?
It may seem that it works very simple. But this is not so. The behavioral experiment should be used strictly reasonably. His script should be clearly verified. And, we repeat, only a highly qualified specialist has the right to conduct it. Otherwise, this will not only not solve the request, but can additionally injure the psyche.
The use of technology should take into account whether a person has a resource, motivation, request, and even secondary benefits now. If the psychologist carefully examined all the nuances, the behavioral experiment for the client can become an exciting experience that will be remembered for a long time as an exciting adventure.