from Ed Ford (920527:10:55)
David Goldstein(920525)
The impression I receive from this book (my book, Freedom From Stress)
is that you work in a top-to-bottom fashion. You ask people what is
important to them and then ask them to rank order these areas.
This is one of the techniques I use to help people organize their
internal systems so they know what's going on and can make choices of
action accordingly. It certainly isn't THE way nor the only way I deal
with others. In Chapter 7 of FFS (Reorganization: The Mind's Repair
Kit) Page 96, lines 20 through 31, sort of encapsulates my ideas on the
creative process.
..if HPCT has anything unique to say to therapists, it is: Identify
controlled variables by means of the method of levels and the test for
the controlled variable.
I don't really think PCT actually says anything in particular. The
greater the understanding one has of how the whole system works, the
more creative a therapist can be in coming up with all kinds of ways to
teach people how to deal with themselves. Certainly the ideas in PCT
provide the creative mind various ways to more efficiently help others
produce harmony within their own worlds. One of the keys to helping
others is, as you suggest above, the whole concept of controlled
variables, and how they can be used within the counseling session.
However, I believe there is a lot of intriguing ideas that flow from
PCT that therapists can use, the controlled variable being one of the
more important. And finally, I agree with you. I really don't think
that we are that far apart in our thinking. It's just that we come
from such completely different backgrounds and ways of perceiving that
our approaches are bound to have their own unique differences.
Rick -
Congratulations on "Mind Readings: Experimental Studies of Purpose".
The book looks great. Greg Williams did a great job on the publishing
end. Bill's foreword was most helpful, especially for people like
myself, in explaining the whole need and understanding of modeling.
You should be very proud.
Ed Ford ATEDF@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU
10209 N. 56th St., Scottsdale, Arizona 85253 Ph.602 991-4860