"It's a blessing to be hidden and a disaster not to be found."
- D. W. Winnicott
The labels we assign to ourselves or accept from others can drastically influence our self-perception and motivation. The words we hear about us, particularly when we are little - activate neural circuits within us that can become aspects of our Inner Speech. This internal narrative accompanies us at all times and guides our explanations as to why things don’t work out, how we might look at a problem, how we perceive and value ourselves.
Our brains are inherently plastic, continuously rewiring in response to our thoughts and experiences. Internalizing negative labels can lead to repetitive brain activity and not only interprets our internal and external environments, but predicts what will happen - leading to self-fulfilling prophecies that can dramatically stifle and suffocate our growth and potential.
In this podcast, we speak about the process of Recognition and Attunement as profound healing tools. We also look at the importance of play, improvisation and embracing complexity. We look at the difference between hope and optimism and the role Agency plays in this difference.
Here are a few key highlights (a more extensive article about this episode will be coming soon!
1 - Recognition is about taking something novel and making it familiar.
To also recognize that part of what's going on for them... has as much or more to do with the injuries of being labeled and treated as a broken thing than it does with the psychiatric issue."
2- Attunement - reflects the essence of recognition
Attunement is a deep, empathetic understanding of another person's emotional state - but not mirroring. We are not necessarily moving into the same state as the other person. It reflects the essence that 'my behavior towards you and my care for you has a message of recognition in it.
3 - Hope isn't optimism...
Hope is the thing you do that drives you to the thing you yearn for through uncertainty. You can't get people to hope, what you can get them to do is to have more faith in themselves. Dr. Ellenhorn also discusses the "fear of hope," where people become fearful of hoping for change because of how much disappointment they have experienced in the past. This fear can become a significant barrier to progress, and can trap people into a cycle of self-preservation (which takes many forms). We look at how self-efficacy, perceived ability to cope and a sense of agency, can help people overcome this fear and navigate the uncertainties of change.
Dr. Ellenhorn is a pioneer and leader in the development and promotion of community integration services, types of care that serve and empower individuals diagnosed with psychiatric and/or addiction issues while they remain in their own communities and outside institutional settings.
Trained as a sociologist, psychotherapist and social worker, Ross Ellenhorn, Ph.D., created the first fully operational intensive hospital-diversion and wraparound program in Massachusetts, and went on to establish and lead one of the first public Programs for Assertive Community Treatment teams in the state. He is the owner and CEO of Ellenhorn, the most robust community-integration program in the United States, which offers services outside of a hospital or residential setting for individuals experiencing addictive behaviors and/or extreme and complex states of mind and mood. Ellenhorn has offices in Boston, New York and Los Angeles.
