How can a psychologist remove damage? What will you do? Some psychologists argue with the client, assuring that there is no damage, that these are prejudices. And they are right (in their model of the world), the 21st century, after all, is higher education. Of course, you want to have an educated client who shares your ideas about this world. But the client also wants the same. And the client “knows” for sure that he has damage, and he goes to his grandmother (psychic, sorcerer). The customer is always right! And the psychologist lost his client by being wrong in his own right. And he did not help the suffering person. This is somehow unprofessional. Damage, Pain, Love, etc. - these are predicates of speech that have no representation in reality as material objects (they cannot be touched). Such words (nominalizations) come from verbs; there are processes behind them, and this means that they (the processes) can be controlled. What to do if the client claims that he has “damage”? First: there is no use arguing here, you will lose the client .Second: some adjustments are needed here!!! These are the basics of NLP. Adapt to the beliefs and values of the client, and then dance your dance as a psychologist, using your arsenal of abilities. With these own attitudes + some knowledge, you can really help such a client. Case from practice Next, I briefly describe a real case. I had such a client. Male, age - 25 years, education - secondary. Believes that he has damage (the context of manifestation is communication with other people). I will briefly describe how the session of getting rid of this damage took place. Designations: K - client, T - therapist (i.e. I). I sit the client opposite me. T: What is your problem? K: I have damage! (The man is embarrassed, waiting for my reaction to his words. He has already received a rebuff from one psychologist. Maybe I’m just as stupid, I don’t understand him.) T: Oh, I see her!... Indeed, you have damage. (I agree, I adapt to his conviction. He changes his position, becomes less tense) T: How long have you had this damage? K: About five years already. T: When does it appear? K: With other people. T: What do you want? K: Get rid of it. T: Do you feel it now? K: Yes. (the hand touches the solar plexus) I notice this touch. Useful for checking the result. My internal dialogue turns on: “What to take for the intervention, taking into account the client’s education and mental development? I have a choice. Gestalt? Hypnosis? NLP? I really want to try 6-step reframing from NLP, but it will take a lot time, with an explanation of at least an hour. And will he understand the instructions? What if I try the “Collapse of Anchors” technique? If it doesn’t help, I’ll go the more complicated route.” - The choice has been made. Next, we need to act. I ask the client to increase the feeling of damage... and I put a “-” kinesthetic anchor (aka stimulus) on “damage”, pressing my hand on the knee. I distract myself and check the anchor. - It works! Next, I ask you to remember a past specific experience when there was no damage. We chose a positive memory (6 years ago) when he was relaxing at sea and was happy. Associating it with experience, I put another kinesthetic “+” anchor on the other knee. I distract myself and check the anchor. - Works! I ask you to close your eyes and do a collapse of the anchors (a technique in NLP), including both anchors at the same time (I press on both knees and hold the anchors, i.e. I give contradictory instructions to the unconscious). I watch the facial expression, I see displacement (an attempt to enter, now into one state, then into another). After about 2 minutes, when he took a deep breath and his body relaxed, I ask you to open your eyes. We are both silent for a while. I'm watching the client. His breathing became deeper. T: Check how it is now. Is there any damage? He lowers his eyes down towards the right shoe. He touches his solar plexus with his hand. K: ... No... (surprised) T: Check it well. Definitely not? Checks, similar to what he did earlier. K: Definitely, no. T: What do you feel? K: Calm (touches the chest). Yeah, I say!