quotation

sabotage

symptom

is practiced wisely by him who reads wisely.

One must be a wise reader to quote wisely and well. - A. Bronson Alcott, 'Quotation,' Table-Talk, 1877

is, in fact, often done at a conscious level.

Sabotaging of therapy is often done at a conscious level so ideally we want the conscious mind out of the way. Here are some examples of passive responsesuggestions: (Brooks 'indirect' 75)

is only able to be removed by altering the intensity, position, or form, transforming, remolding, moving a symptom.

Altering the intensity, position or form of a symptom is the pre-requisite to actually removing a symptom. By moving the symptom from one location to another in the patient's body the therapist is proving that the symptom is psychological and that it is open for change. Likewise if the therapist reduces the intensity of the symptom in some way. If the therapist is able to actually change the shape of the symptom or transform it from one symptom to another, this then ratifies the therapist's skills and the patient's potential for change. (brooks 'indirect' 64)

's cause can't be removed if it doesn't exist any longer. Often the symptom persist even if the cause disappears. For example, a man who wanted to keep his symptom moved pain to his little finger rather than to confront it.

Symptom substitution cannot occur if the cause of the problem no longer exist. The cause can only be removed if it still exist. We are also saying that spontaneous symptom substitution can occur if a symptom is removed without the cause being handled adequately. (brooks 'indirect' 64) . . . On the following session I moved it into his little finger where it became a mildly irritating throb. Before his next visit he telephoned me saying that he did not want any more help, that he was happy with the pain in the little finger and wanted to keep it like that. This patient was helped through improvement not change. Change would have involved the removal of the symptom altogether, probably by directing therapy at the possible source of the problem, his relationship with his wife. (Brooks 'indirect hypnosis')

BrooksThinkers

Brooks