It’s worth remembering that people have been analysing their problems inside their heads for years using the a repetitive bad pattern; Why do I do this? Where did it begin? etc. They ask themselves bad questions which never provide them with answers. Not being able to answer their own questions stresses them and just adds to their challenges.

We need to break the pattern. We need to break their state.

We can do this by answering powerful questions. Ask unexpected questions that they haven’t rehearsed the answers for consciously, this opens the door to their unconscious mind to say something unexpected, these throwaway lines are often expressed with gusto i.e. there is a whole mind and body programme attached to this unconscious throw-away expression.

Now we have something very important to work with.

It is not why or when all this began, or who’s fault it is that matters here. What is useful is how they react in the now and throwaway expressions show these up very nicely. In most cases a throwaway line is said in the first or second sentence from a client if you ask an odd (to them unrehearsed question) will provide you with everything you need to know to move forward with some clearance work.

1. Ask an unexpected question
2. Listen out for throwaway lines in their first two sentences

When clients are sharing their issues with you, many will often describe how they’re feeling with a metaphor.

For example, you may be working with a client who feels stuck. When you ask them how that makes them feel they respond with “I just feel like I’m stuck in a swamp with cement boots on”.

A good place to start…

Start by eliciting the mind-body programme

This ensures that any subsequent work you do has depth and efficacy.

How does feeling stuck in a swamp with cement boots feel like in your mind and body?

What are you most aware of in your mind and body when you think about being stuck in a swamp with cement boots on?

Then you could either;

1. Explore the metaphor consciously

Work with your client by jumping into the metaphor with them to help them move it on.

What would it take for you to get out of the swamp?

What would it take for you to remove your cement boots?

Let’s say you could call on any magical forces you needed to remove your boots, what help would you seek to get rid of the boots? OK. Now use it. Imagine removing your boots in your mind.

What else needs to happen for you to get yourself out of the swamp? Is there anything you need? Call on it in your mind and use it.

2. Work directly with the metaphor using the basic framework

Do a full framework on the metaphor and its opposite.

Being stuck in a swamp with cement boots is splendidly wonderful.

Being stuck in a swamp with cement boots sucks! etc

How to remove the emotional intensity of a word

1. Stating each word 10 to 15 times in The TAT position
2. Then do its opposite.
3. Love and hate the word,
4. Do a paradox of the word.

This will heal the emotional energy and programming we have of that word. If we did the same to the word cave at the end of it you will have a very different visual, feeling, kinaesthetic, olfactory taste, auditory map of the word cave in your mind just as you will have healing an ism.

We can apply this to any words that drive our experiences.

Exercise

List the words that you overuse and apply the magic of Head Trash Clearance and see what happens!

Don’t edit!

It can be tempting to edit how feelings are expressed. We do this because we might feel that we need to communicate properly or that the words we just used make us sound silly. These are just other things that need to be healed; what is it about communicating badly that is wrong or inappropriate? Why is sounding silly a bad thing?

If a client shares how they’re feeling with you, it can be helpful to help them to refine what they’re thinking so that it resonates fully with them, but don’t do this because of YOUR need to find a proper word.

Use the client’s words and expressions!

This exercise will help you to find new ways to express the mantras.