Psychogeography for “You” Messages

Psychogeography for “you” messages is particularly well-suited for dealing with critical, disparaging, or negative internalized messages that undermine self-worth or cause feelings of incompetence, worthlessness, or helplessness.

It differs from “Criticism into Feedback,” which focuses on resolving criticism that comes from outside.

Standard Steps:

1. Negative Inner Dialogue/Message: A chooses a problematic message that shows up as an internal voice.
2. Psychogeography: Explore where in space that message is strongest/weakest.
3. Resource Message: A chooses a positive alternative to the negative voice.
4. Psychogeography: Find where the resource message is strongest/weakest.
5. Transformation: With B’s help, A changes the influence of these messages.
   • a) If both messages are strongest in the same location.
   • b) If their strongest locations differ.
   • c) Test
6. Check results.

Suggested Wording

1. “Are you familiar with situations where an inner voice criticizes or belittles you, or forbids you from doing something?”… “From which direction do you hear this voice?” … “What exact words does it use, how does it sound?”

Coach B takes A’s message and speaks it from different directions. A reports the emotional response depending on location.

2. “Now please pick a statement that encourages or affirms you—like a voice of appreciation or permission.” “What does this statement say?”

B again speaks the new statement from various directions. A notes emotional reactions depending on location.

3. a) If the strongest location is the same for both messages:

B “carries” the problematic message from the position where it’s strongest to where it’s weakest (repeating the statement during location changes), and brings the resource from anywhere else to the place of greatest effect. A mentally repeats this process multiple times, speeding it up each time.

B “carries” the problematic message from the position of greatest strength to a neutral location (again repeating the statement during the movement). A notices the resulting “vacuum” and “fills” that spot with the chosen resource message. If the previously found message is inadequate, A chooses a more appropriate one.

4. “How do you feel now about this topic? What’s different?”