A brief discription of the Open Chair

If two business partners  are having a dispute with one and other over a business issue; and they not talking to each other,
they may become angrier and more distant with time.
They may become suspicious of each conjure irrational ideas about each other,while all the time more polarized.

How to remedy this?
The two sit down and talk to each other…. and open a dialog.
This means one person talks honestly other while the other listens, taking turns, a dialog. this may need a neutral mediator to guide the communication.
To get two polarized sides of  partnership back together… they talk.
The two business partners may resolve their differences.
The may agree to part ways or return to work together as one whole.
They may learn a little more about each other during the dialog.
******

Gestalt Therapy has one basic technique known as the “Open Chair “(Also called the “Empty chair”)
The open chair in the therapy session is a chance to give a voice to two polarized parts of ones self when one is feeling conflicted,torn or ambivalent on a subject.

One may feel ambivalent over a major life choice.
One may feel ambivalent with a family member.
(part of me feels… and part of me feels)
One may have hidden polarity hidden by strong feelings
(part of me says:”I hate Arthritis” vs. the hidden part : me with Arthritis)

“Open Chair’s” purpose  is in having e a client take the role of each polarized “part” of himself on a conflict  and get the two “parts” to talk with each other…. Just like the business partners in the example above.

The focus and critique of open chair session   is on the process and experience of the dialog
not the content.

The Gestalt therapist plays the role of the mediator.
The open chair technique, originated by Fritz Perls has many variations.
It is best to learn this technique and gestalt therapy   with an experienced therapist.

However, The open chair can be used very successfully in creative Journaling and self therapy….

….next post: experimenting with creative journaling.

Zac Browser for Autistic children and the future

Those who view and write Blogs and Web sites know that the Internet is one of the worlds greatest places for education  and resource.
They (We) also know that the Internet can be a dangerous place, especially for Children.

An  intriguing new Browser is popping up called the ZAC Browser.

The Zack Browser was originally Pioneered by a developer who’s grandson( named Zack) who was diagnosed with
Autism Spectrum Disorder
at the age of 3.
The developer designed a primitive version in his Home after seeing his Zack (the Grandson) struggle to use a computer (Wiki).

The Zac Browsers purpose  is to be an easy to use browser interface specially design for an Special Needs Children to interact with it.
The Browser  virtually takes over the computer and only restricted content from the web to the home computer.

a tutorial posted on youtube by one2threeish

The Zac Browser is relatively new and I could not find a lot of documentation yet.
New content is added regularly to Zac and the product is free.
a couple issues:

• How much exposure children should have to a computer has been debated for a long time.
• Even a  definition of Autism seems still in a primitive stage.
• NO browser or Software can be completely 100% safe.

With that said, Zac shows enormous creativity and potential for the future, as well as usefulness now.

(“screen shots” of zac were taken with my Camera)

The Zac Browser started as someones innovative solution in his home, so that others may have a solution and powerful tool in their home…using two of our best resources the computer and the Internet.

For more information and the free download of the free Zac Browser, visit their site:
www.zacbrowser.com

*

health care woes and myths

“I had a doctor’s appointment Friday for a chest cold… I sent my lawyer to meet with the doctor’s lawyer…. It was decided that I should take two aspirin and call my insurance companies lawyer in the morning.“
- ba dump bump. thats a joke.

My personal view about view about Health care is: a client much keep as much control of his/her healthcare as she can.
Myths are held by many here the U.S.,

• that if I get sick its the doctors job to fix it.
• The doctor is entirely  in charge of my healthcare
• The doctor is entirely in charge of my healthcare when I get sick.

This myth has lead to another even worse myth, If my doctor doesn’t fix me that I should sue him for not doing his job properly or I should sue to get even..

there are times when people should take legal action, However the constant health care litigation is one of many issues, along with many other myths, that have driven up the cost of health care in the U.S.

insurance and malpractice insurance cost are sky rocketing. Many good treatments are being let go of or ignored because, they cannot produce data that stands up in the court of law.  Deal with a major health care problem and a client can quickly lose control of  any treatment.

My own health is my most important subject because after all, its my life.

It is up to me to educate myself about staying well…
mentally/physically/socially/environmentally..for the the whole of me.
and remember that the doctor visits are only an aid in my health management.

Freezing cold kitten to new friend scooter

January are pretty cold in Pennsylvania. The Temperature last night was a mere 14F. A little a warmer in the daytime before..
.
…However, still a cold day for me to lie on the icy street , under a minivan for a half hour without a jacket.
Worth the effort though. since I made a new friend this weekend.
(The kitten thawing out on the right by a portable heater)… all one foot in length, decided to try to stay warm by hiding in a mini van’s suspension. The still hot exhaust pipe was a complicated hazard in his rescue…I didn’t want to burn me or the kitten.

Funny thing about a frozen hungry kitten (who had been outside for at least several days on post- rescue inspection) they will quickly befriend one,
if one has cat food on his fingers for them to lick… even in a minivan suspension.

*I have a special appreciation for cats. They have noble independent spirit about them. They can be incredibly affectionate when they wish to be, and will spontaneously play at any moment. They quickly get over small fears, usually when curiosity over comes them… or the wish to bond with their friends.

Cats are truly in the moment.

Oh yeah  my story of meeting my new friend…

• “Scooter” and I made into my home (up the block from the minivan)
• Drank  an unbelievable amount of water and,ate a lot of cat food,
• learned  the word “No” (after exploring the kitchen stove)
• learned the  phrase “good boy” for learning to use the litter box
• I then discovered she is a girl
• Is  scared of going  near the front door (she seems content to stay inside)

And now somewhere between two states: trying to type this post
and demanding my attention all while sitting in my lap.

I will have to stop typing for now.
Say hello to Scooter.

Be with the way (and some quotes)

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be”
–Lao Tzu

“Life has its own hidden forces which you can only discover by living.”
–Soren Kierkegaard

“Move and the way will open”
–Zen

exist, happen, live and be…. are  greater truths of existence, happenings, life and being.

In our analysis of happening, existing, being and living, How transcends What and Why. Process transcends content and cause.

with meditation one learns experiential  wisdom by
being with the way( the way phenomenon happens).

enough of my personal philosophical Ramblings

Have a happy New year…
and remember to continue to BE!

Clearing my mind with Purging to Paper Journaling

We all need to vent some times.  We need to get things off our chests.
Our minds maybe filled with thoughts, anxieties and it needs to get out.
Its a stressful world we live in
Perhaps we need a friend to talk to.
But what if we are somewhere where we have no one to talk to?
What if we don’t believe we can talk to someone about what is on our mind?

The form of self therapy I  favor most is writing and journaling…
Journaling can take many forms and
may include meditation, creativity or venting
… it can be done with pen and paper or into a voice recorder, etc.

When  I need to vent and there is no to listen I can always turn to :

Purging to Paper!
“Purging to Paper Journaling ” is  basically just venting  out or purging  what is  ones  mind… through pen…… and onto paper.
This  can be a cathartic experience and is useful when one feels overwhelmed and needs to vent.
Here is How to do it.

• Have a pen and paper (preferably scrap paper) handy at desk, bed stand or even in pocket…. so it is available when needed.
• When needed simply write and purge out what ever is one is thinking at the moment… from the mind to pen to paper, staying in the moment with energy.
• Do not be concerned with grammar, spelling or writing logically or coherently  with this exercise, or how fast one writes… the idea is to dump every thing from mind to paper .
  There is no need to stop and look at what’s being written.
• If one can’t get started… perhaps they are thinking “I don’t know what to write”… well: write “I don’t know what to write…”.
• When one feels confident that they have exhausted  all they can write..
  then STOP,  breath for a couple minutes.
• Finish journaling with writing a couple coherent and positive statements to end on. Affirming “I statements“
• Now  my favorite part of this therapy exercise… ripping the paper that one just journaled   on, to shreds and throwing it away.
  (Its not only therapeutic to be able to be rid of those thoughts to help move on from them, one doesn’t want others to embarrassingly find there honest and confusing writing.)
• Done.

Purging to Paper Journaling is done without judgment  with purpose of clearing ones mind.  this “technique” (loosely) can be incorporated  into meditative journaling or creativity and can be changed into how ever one wishes to experiment in writing.
Its also a simple way to learn to journal and incorporate  therapies into our stressful lives.