How do you imagine a consultation with a psychologist? Cozy office, comfortable chair, comfortable environment. But what if you were offered to hold a consultation, for example, in a cemetery? And at the same time, changes would not have to wait for years? Stories from the practice of a psychologist could become scenarios for new episodes of the Trigger project.
Psychotherapy is usually a long process. This is what stops many people who doubt whether to contact a specialist. But imagine that you were offered a quick way to solve a problem. However, for this you need to perform actions that would cause strong, extreme emotions. This is exactly what happens when psychologists use a method called a behavioral experiment.
A similar method was presented in the series «Trigger». In it, the main character, a psychologist, uses various non-standard and effective techniques. On the screen, everything looks outrageous and interesting. But in order to try this out for yourself in reality, a person must have serious motivation and a certain amount of courage. And the experiment should be carried out by a qualified specialist.
The goal of a behavioral experiment is to disprove the irrational attitudes that underlie many of our problems. And, of course, get a new positive experience.
How it works? Let’s look at case stories.
Scare to «cure»
Allah, 41 years old. Chief accountant in an international company.
Request
“I’m doing well — my favorite job, a strong family, a high salary. I can afford a lot. But I do not feel positive emotions, happiness, nothing makes me happy. It seems that I have completely lost the desire to live, to do something.
In an attempt to become happy, Alla went through many marathons, turned to astrologers, went to retreats, did yoga and meditation, and worked with a coach. She is tired of trying to change something and is ready for anything, just to enjoy life again.
behavioral experiment
The psychologist receives consent to conduct a behavioral experiment and asks about Alla’s favorite colors and what kind of toast each member of the family would make at her birthday. He promises to send the place of the next meeting in a message. Allah comes at the appointed time. The psychologist is already waiting for her at the place and offers to walk a little.
Passing by the cemetery, the psychologist turns to the main entrance. Alla is surprised, but follows him. They silently walk down the main avenue, approaching one of the fresh graves. On the grave, Alla’s favorite flowers are lilies. On the wreath are ribbons with words from loved ones. On the tombstone is her photo and date of death. The psychologist says: “It’s a pity for the girl. There are so many things I could do.” Shock. Tears. Alla understands: “I want to live!”
The behavioral experiment contrasts the old undesirable attitude with the new real situation. A person gains experience on which he can rely in the future. In Alla’s case, the idea of the meaninglessness of life is opposed to the enacted death. Against the backdrop of a stressful situation, Alla receives a new rational conviction: life is valuable, I want to do a lot more.
magical path
Alexander, 36 years old. Construction company owner.
Request
“When I go out alone from the house, I am very afraid, and I am afraid that a panic attack will happen. If I need to go out, I ask my ex-wife or mother to accompany me. As a last resort, if no one can go with me, I take a sedative with me and route strictly through the hospitals in case something happens. This makes my life extremely difficult: I can’t work properly, go on a date or sign up for fitness. ”
Alexander turns to a psychologist for the first time and expects a miracle. And he wants a miracle right away. The psychologist changes his voice, adding «mystery» intonation, and offers one very effective technique that can help get rid of fear.
behavioral experiment
To do this, you need to buy some things from the list and come to a strictly defined place without having soothing pills with you. Alexander agrees. He buys items from the list: brushes, paints and paper. On the appointed day, he leaves, guided by the coordinates from the message.
When Alexander is 8 kilometers away from the meeting point, the road ends abruptly. He walks through the forest — alone, without pills. On the spot, the psychologist offers to lay out for him everything that he brought, and, using the things he brought with him, to depict his desired state on paper. The experiment has been carried out.
A person does not always understand that there is a transforming component in the experiment. If the psychologist had simply asked Alexander to go outside every day, he would not have done it. Therefore, the psychologist shifts the focus of counseling.
Possessing magical thinking and anticipating a mysterious technique, Alexander alone and without pills walked eight kilometers through the forest. His irrational mindset was: “Being alone is life-threatening. I can’t do it.» Now he can rely on new experience: «It was — and nothing terrible happened.»
Letting go means letting go
Olga, 36 years old. Manufacturing company owner.
Request
“I feel constant anxiety, always in suspense. I constantly think about business: I can’t leave it for a day, delegate my tasks to others. Because of this, I keep everything under control, I can not rest. If I loosen my grip, I will lose money or business. To be left without money is the worst thing for me, because without them I cannot be happy. Without my status, I am nothing at all.”
Olga does not really believe in the result of counseling. She has already unsuccessfully consulted several psychologists and believes that “just talking” is not for her. She is a businesswoman, and therefore wants a quick result in the shortest possible time. Remembering her childhood, Olga talks about a large flower garden under the window of her parents’ apartment; cozy evenings with a warm glass of milk, the smell of fresh pastries on a Saturday morning…
behavioral experiment
The psychologist suggests doing an experiment and taking a week off. On the first day you need to meet with her, she gives the address at the last moment. Olga should take home clothes, personal hygiene products and 2 sets of everyday clothes with her. It is forbidden to take jewelry, money and a phone with you.
On the appointed day, Olga arrives at the address, following all the instructions. The psychologist invites her to a one-room apartment, gives her 10 rubles, an inexpensive telephone with a new number, and the address of a flower shop near the house. Olga is expected to work there from tomorrow. Under the terms of the experiment, Olga must work in it for five days out of seven, do not contact employees of her company, do not access social networks and spend no more than 000 rubles for the whole week.
Olga follows all the instructions and returns home. At a meeting with a psychologist, she seems happy. She enjoyed working as a florist so much that she is seriously considering opening her own flower shop. There was enough money for food, and nothing happened to the business during her absence.
In this experiment, Olga’s belief «Without money I can’t be happy, I’m nobody» was refuted by the new experience. She did what she used to like: made bouquets, freely communicated with people, drank warm milk at night, and even baked a cake on Saturday. “It’s paradoxical, but for the first time in a long time I was very happy, although I didn’t have any money or my usual professional activities at that moment. Nothing happened to my company during my absence,” says Olga.
In the Spotlight
Elena, 36 years old. Senior Specialist.
Request
“I was offered a promotion and I really want to accept. Fear of public speaking is the only thing that stops me. When I find myself in the center of attention, even a few people, I begin to get very worried. It seems to me that others notice my excitement, consider me unprofessional, stupid and weak. This makes me even more pissed off. The new position involves regular performances — this stops me from agreeing. Something needs to be done quickly.»
behavioral experiment
The next day, the psychologist invites Elena to the conference hall for a lecture on public speaking. At the appointed time, both are located in the hall among several dozen spectators. The event begins, the speaker on the stage is worried. He talks about his excitement and the difficulties it brings him. The audience supported the speaker with applause and approving comments.
Then the psychologist gives Elena a text and says that now she is going out and she needs to read the text from the sheet. Elena is worried, but the supportive atmosphere gives her self-confidence. The text that Elena read was about her fear of performing and her anxiety. Sometimes she asked questions to the audience, and the audience had to raise their hand if they thought she was stupid, funny, weak. But no one raised their hands. And each time Elena became more confident.
In this experiment, the woman received a new positive response from others. She performed as before, but the audience rebutted her disastrous thoughts about her «shame». Elena, in turn, gained experience in evaluating other speakers. The empathy and support she felt went against her own idea of hostility and judgment.
So simple?
You might get the impression that it works very simply. But it is not. Behavioral experiment should be used strictly justified. His script must be clearly calibrated. And, we repeat, only a highly qualified specialist has the right to conduct it. Otherwise, this will not only not solve the request, but may additionally injure the psyche.
In the use of technology, it must be taken into account whether a person now has a resource, motivation, demand, and even secondary benefits. If the psychologist carefully considered all the nuances, a behavioral experiment for the client can be an exciting experience that will be remembered for a long time as an exciting adventure.