Achieving M Etaposit Ion
The last and most important area of working with incongruity is that of assisting the client in achieving meta-position with respect to his polarities. This means that, as a therapist, in order to make your work thorough and lasting, you will be required to do a little more than just put polarities into contact with one another. In order for the client to recode his polarities and sorted para-messages in such a way as to allow permanent change and therefore, true meta-position, sustained contact and integration may be required, although not always.
Once the polarities have a well-formed sort, maximal separation, and then contact in the same representational system, you, as a therapist, are prepared for integration. To achieve integration and, therefore, meta-position, your client's two or more sets of representations which have been put into contact in the same representational system must now be given the impetus to reorganize themselves into a new, single representation which will include all of the paramessages of both and will be itself greater than the sum of the two. For example: If a client has two polarities (A and B), where A implied not B and B implied not A, they are a mutually exclusive representation for the same territory. Meta-position would not be a representation of A plus B but rather a set of plus or minus (AB) equaling some representation (X) that had all the potentials of A and B as well as Not A and Not B and the rich choices that result from many combinations within and between the polarities.
Consider the following example of Dennis, who presented the therapist with a highly incongruent communication about his interaction with others in the world, simply stating that he wishes others to like him. The polarities which were sorted out of this communication were a kinesthetic-placating part which felt he must do what others expected of him or he wasn't a good person and no one would like him, along with a visual blaming part which saw other people pushing him around, being cruel to him and undeserving of his kindness. These two representations were conflicting maps for the same territory and the result was a deadlock in his behavior, kind words with a grating tonality. His polarities were put into contact in his visual representational system (fantasy, mind's eyes) by having him create two images of himself, standing side by side, one the part which Dennis felt must placate others, the other the part of Dennis which saw how people abused him. He was told to watch these two argue and report on their interaction, both visually as well as auditorily. The result was that Dennis was simultaneously representing both his polarities, visual and auditory, from the perspective of an observer.
Although simultaneous representation had been achieved in the same representational system, along with contact, meta-position had not yet been fully achieved. Dennis was asked to comment on the assets of both polarities and then asked if he would try something which might be new to him. His response was affirmative. He was then told:
Dennis, now, as you continue to sit there with your eyes closed, I would like you to gently reach up with both hands, grasping these two images, one in each hand. That's right (Dennis reaches up). Now, slowly push these two together, together into one image, watching closely, seeing how both change into one. (Dennis pushes them together slowly, gasping as his hands approach each other.) Now, what do you see?
Dennis: It's me, but different.
Therapist: How?
Dennis: I look strong, but not mean.
Therapist: Anything else?
Dennis: Yes; he can be gentle and care about people and ... yes, he's not weak and mushy either.
Therapist: You see a picture of yourself having all of those qualities at the same time?
Dennis: Yes (sighing).
Therapist: Do you like what you see?
Dennis: Yes.
Therapist: Would you like to make that a part of yourself, and
Dennis sees
Representation of Kino placater
Dennis sees
Representation of Visual Blamer have those abilities as your resources?
Dennis: Sure.
Therapist: Good. Then, continuing to hold this image of yourself gently and watching it carefully, slowly pull the image into yourself. That's right. (Dennis pulls his hands slowly toward his body.) Now, let this come inside, become a part of you, a resource all the way inside of you. (Dennis places his hands against his body, breathing deeply. As he does, his face flushes with color and he sighs loudly.)
Therapist: How do you feel as this becomes a part of you?
Dennis: All tingly in my chest.
Therapist: Let it spread all through your body as this becomes truly a part of you.
Through this process, Dennis achieves meta-position, recoding his polarities visually into a single representation. The therapist tested his work by playing Dennis' polarities but Dennis was no longer incongruent in this way; he only laughed where before he flew into anger. His softened facial muscles and laughter were sure signs of achieving meta-position and integration of this set of polarities.
Recoding of polarities can be accomplished in any representational system by representing the polarities simultaneously and then arranging for a single representation. Even in the case of the Parts Party described earlier, the paramessages which are represented by different people are, at the end of the Parts Party, unified into a single group. Then a short ritual is performed which results in simultaneous repression kinesthetically by having the client stand in the middle of a circle of the people who are playing his parts and each part lays a hand on the client, stating the ability he represents, until the client has hands from each part touching him simultaneously and has stated his acceptance congruently.
So, the resulting strategy for integration of polarities is first, contact in the same representational system and then, secondly, recoding into a single representation. Thus meta-position and integration are achieved.
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