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process interview
digestive system
psychospiritual approaches

definition

process work digestive system interview:
development of associations

see preliminaries:
process work: interview

The most important function of the therapeutic interview is to develop an understanding and experience of the person's pattern and process; that is, to find the individual's precise meaning of their relationship to their specific digestive complaint. The 'meaning' of the digestive system condition may be consistent with the person's own associations with their condition, which represent the primary consciousness. As one becomes aware of what the person is identified with, then the secondary, more unconscious signals will become apparent. When we observe the persons' associations with their condition and follow carefully what happens in the moment, the condition will then begin to appear as part of the whole process with which the person is involved. By amplifying the person's associations with the digestive system and their individual symptoms, the primary process can be supported to completion, and new insight may be facilitated. No "psychospiritual meaning" is given for specific conditions, as the meaning of symbols/symptoms is individual and does not have a universal interpretation.

The following are some of the 'associations' or concepts which came to mind by allowing possible ideas, thoughts, visions, and/or feelings of the digestive system to come into consciousness. As you think of the digestive system, ask yourself what do I know about it, what are my associations? Try other channels, for instance feeling and seeing, etc. It is most helpful to examine your own and the client's associations at the time of the interview. These examples represent the reviewers' associations at a moment in time:

• alchemical, mixing, digestion, nourishment
• maintaining blood glucose levels, regulatory neuro/endocrine systems
• ingesting, swallowing, sensations, sounds, feelings, absorption, expelling
• juices, enzymes, chemistry, hormones, neuropeptides, autonomic responses
• acid, ulcers, pain, bleeding, indigestion, gas, heartburn, heartache, stress responses
• binging/fasting, fullness/emptiness, eat your heart out, starve a fever
• peristalsis, spasms, constriction, holding, releasing, anal retentive, constipation, diarrhea, voluntary/involuntary control
• are you 'regular'? is it important? what does it mean to the person?
• who is having digestive problems?
• what is the unconscious process? what are the unconscious movements, body position?
• is the symptom happening to the person? what is the belief system? what does it allow? what is prohibited?
• what is it that cannot be digested? expelled? retained? what is being retained, etc.?
• what would happen if this process is increased? what would happen if the symptoms were really exaggerated? what is it they cannot do? what figure is stopping it?
• can they identify with this role and take it over? what happens to the symptom? can the symptom be expressed in another mode? listening, seeing, feeling?

specific conditions: for example,
appendicitis - who is painmaker? what might rupture?
colon cancer - what is the tumor to the patient? what are associations and beliefs about the tumor? how is it helpful in this person's life? what are the associated symptoms - bleeding, stool changes, and what is the story/metaphor/information with these?
fissure/fistula - what are the person's associations to pain, bleeding?
malabsorption - who is nourishing person? how are they diverting nutrients? what does this allow them to do? what is it they cannot do?

see:
process paradigm
process work: basic principles
process work: glossary
process work: observation
process work: channel examples
process work: interventions
process work: working with signals
process work: working on the edge
process work: interview


footnotes