Two therapists guide a client through a disturbing memory using grounding techniques and vivid imagery. The client learns the difference between tense vigilance and relaxed alertness, and reports their distress dropping from a higher level to a 2 after a ballerina visualization exercise.
Chapters
So the 3.5 is about you not being happy that you're not careful enough.
Yeah.
And thinking that, that, that, that by remaining disturbed about this, it will make you be more careful.
Right? Like I need to have some hypervigilance because I harmed an animal in the process. So like, I don't want to harm anything. And so if I stay— yeah, that's probably part of the blocking belief too, like somehow I need to stay on guard.
Okay, so, um, so the question is, um, is it safer to be tense and on guard or to be Aware and alert.
Relaxed and alert.
Relaxed and alert.
Okay. Yeah, of course, relaxed and alert. Good question.
Well, just think of that.
Okay.
What are you noticing now?
This is gone completely. And of course now I'm chanting, relaxed and alert, relaxed and alert, into my head.
So I, I take it from what I was seeing that, uh, I, I should have asked you to pin my image.
Yeah, you were like in a little box.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So that doesn't work too well. Um, but how disturbing is the memory now?
Probably a 2 now. It moved down even though you were in the smaller.
Yeah, go ahead and pin my image. Just go to the top right corner of the image.
There we go.
Okay, good. So, you know, one way that intervention is very effective is If you think of a sports figure that you like, do you have one?
Um, not really.
It could be an ice skating figure.
Um, yeah, I don't, I don't. Nothing comes to mind. I—
Okay.
I, I— maybe a ballerina would be better. We're dancers in my family, so there's ballet dancers that we really like.
Okay. So let's imagine— I don't know what the name of this move is, but the ballerina comes rushing up to the guy. It was in Dirty Dancing, actually. It's that move where she jumps up and he— yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, let's just imagine the ballerina preparing to to do this move, which is somewhat a dangerous move.
Yes.
And as you picture her, does she seem scared and tense, or does she seem focused and present?
Focused and present.
Good. Won't you think of that? And what are you noticing?
I feel like even my belly's now more relaxed. I know that sounds silly, but not at all. My everything feels more relaxed, like less tensed up.
Good.
Typically, fear, uh, fear can be felt in various places, but if it's in the belly, it's usually fear.
