My deepest appreciation and enthusiasm at the huge wealth of resources you have been providing me through the psychotherapy course, Reframing course, weekly tips, UPTV, and monthly Q&A. There is so much there and I wish there were enough hours in a week to take it all in! Because of that wealth of content, I definitely appreciate the timely e-mails which link to a specific issue or strategy addressed in a UPTV session.
Studying for the psychotherapy course and watching UPTV sessions and demos, I was also struck that solution-focused psychotherapy shares many features with music (or sports) instruction – or any field involving learning new motor skills for that matter! Teaching musical skills works best through a RIGAAR-like framework: setting goals that are precise, realistic and actionable; asking students precise questions about the technical or stylistic issues they wish to solve; working with students within a “learning zone” which resides slightly outside their usual “comfort zone” yet not so far outside of it that they might feel discouraged by the magnitude of the task at hand. Normalizing and de-dramatizing the difficulties which students experience (as they may often think they are the only one to be afflicted with a certain technical hindrance!) Spotting students’ strengths, what they are already able to do well and easily, what they enjoy most from their instrument, and building on those resources with strategies and customized exercises so students explore, rehearse and consolidate new muscular habits, improve their technical skills and reach their objectives.
I am very happy that I found your approach and educational resources. The idea of “sensible psychology” is one I particularly resonate with, as I value nuanced thinking and moderation, the ability to reflect, to question what we think we know, to examine various viewpoints and theoretical frameworks and to look for common ground whenever possible. I love Mark’s teaching style and therapeutic style, and I also very much appreciate Roger’s and Joe’s interventions and counterpoints in the sessions’ comments and monthly Q&A’s.
Comments are closed.