Changing Emotion with Emotion: A Transtheoretical and Transdiagnostic Approach to Psychological Healing

Important points made by Dr. Greenberg, especially about the value of the humanistic approach that seems to be disappearing in the hype of technology and newer more “scientific” emerging fields. The truth is that we need all-inclusive inquiries and then integration from all available sources and at all fronts, and that implies and negates various past dogmas and taboos -including the “different treatments for different disorders” outdated mode of engagement, but i think that we still need to ‘customize’ and that’s feasible and compatible with the “changing processes” and insights about what changes in the therapeutic process. Besides, part of the changing process is the mental/cognitive integration and new construction of creative and more productive *meaning* -that also leads to higher purposes, thus has motivational values too. Elsewhere i suggest that it has to do with “morality” as well (here, spiritually-defined) and that also implies spiritual experience. Thus, Dr. Greenberg is correct when he speaks about the pre-linguistic events, but then without the cognitive mediation and new production of *meaningful* interpretations that make good sense and promote higher-self value systems nothing will last -besides, most various “nervous breakdowns” and “psychotic” re-actions are also based on the inability to *understand* and cope with the emotional (and spiritual) experience. From that point of view, and when we have clients with unresolved traumatic experiences some “catharsis” becomes important if not necessary -and then everything in changes/adapts in context! That is also similar and maybe the result of memory re-consolidation -not alawys as causal but as effect that becomes causal. While everything in constant change, Memory is both kinda fixed (for the unhealed) and open (for those who are open-minded enough and/or have spiritual experiences). We can change the past by recapitulation and other energetic methods (yes, by evoking new experiences) that remove both the chains at the neurochemical-molecular levels and the embodied meanings attached to them. Evoking new experiences also needs new “meaning” and that’s why we need a functional cosmology (scientifically) and even more importantly a healing mythology (imagination)! We are sentient beings with fable minds! Yes, about “renaming” but that’s why and where the semiotic property/process becomes important and is in control and i propose that it does the job done in the changing processes as well (that would include the primitive, emotional, the cognitive, symbolic, “linguistic” and other meta-cognitive parts/processes).

Thank you! Really pleasant and interesting to follow, congratulations to you both, also for high spirits and generosity!
I was also an engineer, before becoming a psychiatrist, lovely to feel in good company in the field.
All the best to you both

Thank you Clarissa for being vulnerable here as a means to demonstrate this therapeutic approach. I look forward to reading more about EFT!

This was a wonderful presentation – incredible informative and powerful. Thank you both.

Thank you, Dr. Greenberg. Wonderful talk! I find that working dynamically with emotions is crucial. I try combining bottom-up and top-down interventions into an integrative process.

This was such a rich and informative session . Very inspiring

I feel very validated in my clinical work as I combine Tapping, the polyvagal theory and cognitive behavioral therapy. Also the EFT Emotion-focused therapy influenced my work. Facilitating the process by naming the evoked emotion often helps the client and also makes the process faster. The polyvagal theory helps creating a new narrative of the felt emotion in a past situation. Not feeling safe is always causing stress. Anger and rage are standing for the need of autonomy. Anxiety and sadness express the need of connectedness. So also the bonding theory and the science of attachment are fitting in. Because we all need coregulation. As a psychotherapist we offer this coregulation. Working with emotions in the way described and showed in the video is befriending the nervous system. Tapping helps a lot to keep control and distance to the emotional pain. The feelings of compassion, appreciation and care – also for the younger selves – is very helpful and creates the feeling of coherence also shown in the body by our heartratevariability and breathing. Our body reacts positively with hormones like DHEA and oxytocine. So mental and physical health and healing are depending on the processing of our emotions.

Clarissa was very fortunate to have a live session with Les. Envy!

The approach used by the speaker reminded me of Assiogoli approach which was known as Psychosynthesis, if I remember it correctly. The hostess actually appeared to have more light in her face afterward.
Very nice!

Just enthralling. As a Compassion Focused Therapist I am in awe of your depth of knowing. Thank you so very much for sharing your insight of emotion transformation. I’m transfixed.