abreaction
is it something to fear?
I was taught that hypnosis was dangerous and needs special training to make it safe.
What is an abriaction?
If we approach this question as it is the unexpened expression of a strong emotion, it becomes manageable. If any of us has had the experience of experiencing a strong emotion in watching a movie, or reading a book, or even visiting the supermarket, we can accept it as a normal response that doesn’t require therapy, but simply needing a tissue or some physical support … whatever is useful.
The same in therapy - validating the emotion, then exploring the client’s response. They may be frightened, needing reassuring or support, or even accepting it as OK. We can’t know until we ask.
In my medical trying, I was told that in an emergency, first take your own pulse. In a plane passengers are instructed to fix their own strap before assisting others
We can always invite an exploration of what’s missing so the client will be OK and help them to access this preferred emotioal response.
Our own mood is infectious, so if we can be accepting and calm, the client can catch our mood instead of us catching thir mood of fear which will be unhelpful.
Rob, I appreciate the way you emphasize the focus on the other person's needs while not forgetting own biases, fears, and limitations when we work with clients. Thank you for the reminders to be conscious of both fronts.
The only time I was in the presence of full on abreaction was, ironically, in a psychotherapeutic training session. I was working with a fellow student in the presence of the rest of the class and our teacher and ventured into an area I had thought was well covered by her with her own therapist, but actually wasn't. She went into a full throttled abreaction. I was able to settle her, but the whole thing unsettled everyone else. I actually felt quite calm myself and, I guess, that is what settled her.