Self Relations is a relatively new and innovative approach to psychotherapy and the healing process. Developed by Stephen Gilligan, it outlines the role that psychotherapy plays in a person’s ability to acquire and develop the necessary skills to love. This method embodies support, help, or aid often given through psychotherapy or other therapeutic protocols, but can also include different methods of healing found in coaching, mentoring, and community relations.

Identifying and Expressing Inner Voice

This form of self discovery identifies symptoms as an outer expression of an inner voice yearning to be heard. Rather than focusing on diminishing or exterminating symptoms altogether, Self Relations strives to awaken that inner awareness and discover what the symptoms are trying to reveal. It allows the natural flow of energy, or life, to arouse the sense of love, spirit, or soul in a person’s experience with themselves and with those around them. By using many different variations of traditional therapies and other methods of inner guidance and steering, Self Relations can often be a physically disconcerting and uncomfortable experience, as clients discover inner workings of themselves that were previously hidden.

Erickson's Theory of Trance States and Self Relations

Self Relations is founded on the theories of Stephen Gilligan who agreed with Erickson’s theory of naturalistic trance states. Self-relations believes that healing can be attained through internal dialogue and discovery. This method utilizes various methods of communication to incite the internal conversation. This theory suggests that the inner conversation is a crucial and vital element to self-healing, not merely an important function of the recovery process. The therapeutic process is focused on freeing the lines of communication between a person and his inner self in order to help them experience healing of body, mind, and spirit. Sponsorship is a tenant of Self Relations and provides a safe platform in which a client can begin to examine and explore his or her inner expectations, emotions, and feelings in a trusted and accepting atmosphere.

Resources Related to Self Relations:

Stephen Gilligan

Self Relations Psychotherapy

Wikipedia's Page about Self Relations

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Last updated: 05-14-2013