Here is a summary from an example consultation shared in a recent Consultation Skills course. I hope it shows the freshness and relevance that is possible when we listen to and follow the client’s process. The client gave his permission to share this session.
Client's choice: B105, B55, B0, B73
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A Childhood Memory
After a few words of creating the space for the process I invited the client to explore a bottle. He chose B55 and picked it up. As he looked at it a childhood memory came to his mind, a time when, in his words, “I felt anger because I was not given time to understand something.”
As I listen as a Pratitioner, in the back of my mind I am making the connections. The red in B55 can correspond to the anger; the gold in B73 can represent the understanding he did not have time to reach. (I also notice time is a green word – a colour that may be referenced as the complement to the red in B55.) I noticed but did not say these points to the client yet – I did not want to intrude unnecessarily into his valuable flow.
Time Out
He now felt attracted to the B0 lying between B55 and B73. He took the bottle and held it. No images or feelings came, he just sighed. But again, in the back of my mind, it struck me even the absence of an image or memory here could be meaningful. 0 is a spacing out, a stepping in to nothing, and royal blue as a a colour takes us into another realm. This combination seemed to offer the time out he needs to understand. A space of nothing.
Eureka
I could see then how the gold of 73 represented the understandings that he had wished to come to. Little “eureka” moments of understanding that would allow him to be more relaxed. When he looked at the gold in the fourth bottle he smiled and said, “This makes me happy, gives me joy.”
A place for everything
And then I had a little eureka moment of my own. It arose as he answered a question I asked. He answered yes but his tone of voice told me he wasn’t 100% about it. I realised it is only when we have truly come to our understanding of something then our answer will be 100%, whether as a Yes or No. The answer that is certain has found its place inside. And here was my eureka. This is like coral – his first bottle! Coral polyps in the sea live all together. Our experiences, like corals, when truly digested all have their place. This explained the coral in the consultation – a theme of integrating experience.
Finding the key
When I asked what his main message from the session was he replied it was to find his wisdom. Taking this as a cue we worked together and realised he needed to have the wisdom and centredness to recognise when he needed to say to the outside world “I need more time.” Thus we found the healing gift in the second bottle. The red can now be used for awakening and the strength to say “No” to the pressures of life. Using the red more consciously and positively means that there will be no red left to fuel unconscious anger. He will be practicing a new way to live life.
The power is in the truthfulness
There was more to the consultation but this is the essence of the story that emerged. I love that this consultation has no need of bottle names, number meanings, tree of life information etc. Its power is in its truthfulness, its simplicity, its originality, its absolute relationship to the client’s challenge and wish.
Had I not listened to the client I doubt I would have arrived at such a perfect fit to his story. Being non intrusive is not only to be aimed for because it is right as a principle, it is also desirable because it works so well in practice. The closer I am to this principle the easier, more nourishing and fulfilling the consultation experience becomes.
Like to learn more?
I love to share this way of working and I have many exercises to help develop it. They are the focus of my six day consultation skills course. that also counts towards the Level 4 qualification. There are two chances in early 2011 – Hungary and Netherlands. I don’t do so many in a year so if you are interested please Find out more … now. It might be a choice you are really happy you made.
