The "Power" of Talking

 

    I love this representation - the simple interaction of one person telling another person about troubling thoughts and feelings they're having about something, someone or a situation. This is commonly know as "therapy" in an office type setting, but it can be done anywhere and with anyone. There is also the other end of the power of talking and that is the "power of listening." This can take some skill.

    What I see in the image above is a woman with her many thoughts mixed up, leaving her confused and unsure. She could perhaps be scared as well. Her thoughts look like a bunch of yarn that is tangled. If there are any knitters or crocheters out there, you know how frustrating this can be. You almost want to give up at tying to entangle the yarn and saying "heck with it!" and throw them in the trash. I would see that as denial or burying your head in the sand. "If I don't see the problem, it will go away." Back to the power of talking...As she begins to blurt out all she is feeling, the speaker is listening. And listening. The listener is careful not to interrupt the speaker's flow of words. Sensing the right time (a pause), the listener reflects back what she thinks she heard the speaker say; validation. As they together sort out her different tangled emotions, the strands yarn are separated and put to their proper ball of yarn. I see three different categories above in three different colors. I am assuming she is leaving the office with three different areas in her life to work on. Most importantly and hopefully, she is leaving with clarity,

    Then, there of course is the aspect of the speaker "getting it all out." There is nothing worse than keeping your feelings bottled in; man or woman. Our feelings have merit because for whatever reason; good or bad - it's how we feel! During this session, I am going to assume that there were certain things she disclosed that was best to let go of; no need for them to be taking up space in her head. This eases the entanglement; better focus.

    And if we listen well enough, sometimes the person who trusts us enough to share with us, will come to their own solutions or plan of action; literally talking herself into a calmer and more organized space.

    I'm not sure if good therapy rests in the power of listening or talking.