Core Competencies of Ericksonian Therapy: 2. Utilization with Stephen Gilligan, PhD

[@tg2314]

"Leave a trail of Happiness..so you can look forward to looking back " Dr. Erickson

[@richardjones7984]

Very interesting interview. The therapist explained the basic concepts very well. The not knowing but carrying on principle is something that is common with people involved in psychic research. There may be some overlap between these different world concepts.

[@Runemasque]

My own not complete notes: Utilization accepts the entire identity and patterns of the person. There is a positive presumption. Teaching story of the suicidal lady because of her tooth gap. Before suicide she agrees to try something, practicing spraying water through the gap. Then she is to surprise and spray a potentially interested man. They get married and have little squirts (joke intended). This story is explored. A hypothetical client is imagined as saying she is an idiot, stupid. What would Gilligan do that exemplifies Utilization? He thanks the part (using third person) who is speaking in this voice. Another commenter on the video had a great suggestion to make that voice courageous and discerning, which then exemplify intelligence and not stupidity. The relationship is trance-informed, incorporating two levels, Gilligan brings up. I don't entirely understand the difference and significance because I start to think of a conscious - subconscious dichotomy. The Primary Process is the reverie, the dream... The second is the observer, the social and cognitive, the family in childhood... Eugene Gendlin distinguished between a symbol and a sign. A symbol sounds mystical, full of potentially endless meaning. Gilligan mentions 100 faces which is A Joseph Campbell allusion. A sign has a singular meaning. I guess it could be powerful and useful , or benign, or imprisoning and malignant. I think the point is that there is a fruitful potential here to make plastic (varied, limbered, mutable, open-ended, transformed) what someone has made rigid, global, limited, and singular. When you see a sign and what it is taken to signify (a tooth gap means a hopeless life means suicide), you then have the potential to treat that sign as a symbol with all of the resources to find new positive meaning. Then Gilligan talks about blarney. Blarney means BS. He jokes that we all are full of blarney, though we want our blarney to be centered and responsible blarney. There is a Conspiracy to believe that I feel like an idiot, but no one else does. But they, we, are all full of it! Gilligan says we must be comfortable with not knowing. He thinks Erickson looks at a person alike to a refracting jewel with so many faces, and so intuition may suggest which aspect to utilize and how. He says we will always come to unprecedented places where what worked for the old self won't work. What will the new self do and be? This reminds me of Ivan Illich describing in Rivers North of the Future the character of inhabiting life with curiosity and expecting (like a mother expects) a wonderful surprise. The therapist can hold a space where, in relation to this unprecedented unknowing, one can be kept connected to the person's positive values and abilities and a creativity. They discuss why it is good to have moderate confidence as a therapist VS too much or too little. Gilligan talks about the therapist as an observer and also a participant. The therapist models processes using their own self. Clients may have different professional boundaries, so self reveals must consider those boundaries.

[@OmarCapital]

12:25

[@experiential-psychology7484]

Dan Short is one of the most talented communicators I've ever heard. If you ever have the chance to read one of his books I highly recommend it.

[@nozarm]

Thank you Dan and Stephen, for such an incredibly rich conversation. Thank you for sharing with us, Truth-seekers, so openly and authentically. Your share reminded me of the “It's not about the cards we have been dealt, but how we play the hand.” And if I may add to this - from my own training and experience, and from Stephen's sharing, "How we connect with and relate to the hand," is a difference that makes a difference. Much gratitude to you and Milton and other giants, on whose shoulders, we stand. Thank you 🙏

[@KrishnaMishraAdroit]

At around 16th min: The better utilization would be to acknowledge her Courage of scrutinizing her behavior unbiased. And, then to make her realize that such Courage can't emanate from Stupidity. Then, gradually build up an anecdote that Courageous behaviours can only come out from purely conscious and intelligent existence. It's just my view, otherwise I really appreciate anyone who has worked with the great Ericson!

[@ericksonfoundation]

Gret suggestion, thank you!

[@KrishnaMishraAdroit]

@@ericksonfoundation That response is an honour Sir! Thanks a lot to you all for keeping the legend of Dr. Erickson alive.

[@janethtrevizo7878]

Beautiful interview the best out of all. ❤❤❤❤❤