2017 Summer

Language of the soul

Communication skills for therapists with Bhagat

Whenever we communicate with a client, we talk at the same time to the conscious mind of the client, and also to the unconscious mind of the client. Our conscious mind functions logically and rationally, it can take in abstract information. The unconscious mind however functions very differently, it represents experiences rather in pictures, or stories. Rational information will not reach to the unconscious, simply because it talks a different language. If we as therapists want to reach to the unconscious of the client, we need to learn to talk in such a way, that the unconscious and the conscious of the client will understand us.

A basic skill required for this is the ability to create Rapport. Rapport means the client starts to feel trust to the therapist, the client feels the therapist talks the same language. The client feels seen and respected. Rapport is a natural state, but it can take a long time till it grows. It is very helpful for a therapist to be able to create an atmosphere of Rapport already at the beginning of the therapy. Without Rapport, you cannot lead the client anywhere, the client will simply not come with you. With Rapport, the client will be willing to come with you, and experience something new, to look at something from a new perspective. For creating Rapport, we communicate both on a verbal level and also on a nonverbal level.

Another important skill for a therapist is, to be able to adjust your communication to your client, to talk to this client in a way, that this client can understand. You learn how to adjust your output in such a way, that the intended communication reaches to your client. This is not complicated, but it wants awareness about the communication process and flexibility from you.

Another layer of being able to communicate well with your clients is the ability, to restructure the subjective map of your clients by creating what we call a Wellformed Outcome. Wellformed Outcome means the client develops a direct and positive representation of what they want to learn, instead of referring to what they don?t want anymore. This includes a systemic perspective, where the client looks at the possible implications of the changes, to make sure, that they will be ecological. Ecological means in this context, that there will be no negative side effects for the health or relationships or life situations of the client. And the Wellformed Outcome also structures the perceptions of your client in such a way, that the client starts to think in a way which looks for the Resources in one?s own life which will be needed or helpful for reaching this wellformed outcome. Being able to create a Wellformed Outcome for a client often is the step the client was waiting for, in order to be able to walk on towards change.

You also learn a technique specifically designed for dealing with automatic fear reactions. Especially with this technique you will understand how we unconsciously often maintain an old unwanted reaction without finding a way out. And it is quite surprising to experience how much we can change there.

Language skills both for detecting limiting patterns in the clients subjective reality and also for leading and communicating will complete your basic communication skills. You learn how to help the client to leave behind subjective maps like I have to…., I must ….., I cannot….. and move on to perceiving possibilities, which takes away a lot of inner pressure from the client.


Training contents:
Rapport, Anchoring, Representational systems, Creating Metaphers: therapeutical stories, pictures from nature, Language use, Meta Model, Trance language - the language of telling stories, Phobia cure.

Bhagat is the founder of Institute of Family Constellations and of Shangri La Osho Meditation Center in Czech Republic. Bhagat works with people since 30 years, with focus on Systemic Family constellation therapy, Ericksonian Hypnosis and NLP, and trains people since many years in therapeutic professions. He holds a Master and Trainer degree for NLP (DVNLP), and has additional trainings in Art of dying work, Breathwork, Counseling, Reincarnation, and Meditation processes. Many years of therapeutic work in Osho Commune International in Pune, India, and deep studies of and being in touch with the religions of Asia, especially Tibetan Buddhism and Zen have shaped his understanding of the interconnectedness of our psyche and religion. His personal interest also lies in how to integrate spirituality and Meditation into everyday life. He is a father of 3 children.