Voices in your head – Talking to yourself – Just relax we all have them and do that

Voice Dialogue (VD) is a great way to get to know yourself directly by talking to them. In addition to this, the developers of VD, Hal and Sidra Stone (1993), believe it to be an extremely effective method of exploring and eventually coming to grips with different inner selves. As with any approach to personal growth, VD is not necessarily appropriate for everyone and must be seen in the context of all the psychospiritual work you do. VD is a way of working that can be integrated into any therapeutic or growth enhancement system. It’s not designed to replace anything, but to add richness to whatever you’re doing right now.

THE BASIC COMPONENTS OF VOICE DIALOG

An exploration of our subpersonalities:

VD offers the opportunity to separate the subpersonalities from the total personality and treat them as independent interacting psychic units or energy systems. By using DV, we directly engage these subpersonalities or voices in dialogue without the interference of a critical, embarrassed, or repressive protector/controller.

The role of the Ego:

VD definitely separates the ego from the protector/controller and the primary subpersonalities that work alongside it. The ego occupies a central physical space and the subpersonalities develop their conflicts around it. When the different subpersonalities take over, the facilitator will signal this takeover and ask the subject to move to another space and engage directly with the subpersonality. In this way, the ego differentiates itself more and more clearly; that is, it becomes a more conscious ego.

Improved awareness:

VD introduces consciousness into our psychological structure. There are physical spaces for each subpersonality, for the ego that coordinates and executes, and, separate from everyone else, for our consciousness.

GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF VOICE DIALOG

Identification of subpersonalities: Create a psychic map

The first step in facilitating DV is the identification of subpersonalities. The facilitator encourages the subject to talk about life in general or about a specific experience that seems important to them. The conversation between them fulfills several functions: it establishes or improves the relationship, it transmits information and, most importantly for the DV process, it gives the facilitator the opportunity to create a “psychic map” of the territory.

Physical separation of subpersonalities

When the facilitator (with the consent of the subject) talks to a specific subpersonality, the subject must move to a different space in the room, which means changing chairs.

Facilitating Subpersonalities

From this point on, the facilitator simply speaks to the subpersonality as if it were a real person. The facilitator can be empathetic and nonjudgmental, ask questions when appropriate, or simply listen.

A basic principle of VD’s work is: whatever progress is made is acceptable; it is not necessary to solve specific problems in a single session. The conscious ego is responsible for the resolution of any problem.

Separating the subpersonalities from the conscious ego

To separate a subpersonality from the conscious ego, encourage each voice to speak of the subject as a separate entity. After the session, we return to the conscious ego in its particular position, and the facilitator and subject discuss the session in any way they choose.

More important details

Remain non-judgmental: It is important not to judge. Voices are like people: if the facilitator is truly open and interested, they will flourish.

Relax and take your time: Subpersonalities, as said before, are just like people: they like to feel like they have your full attention and plenty of time to express themselves. A facilitator may have to sit quietly for quite some time before a vulnerable child even speaks. Often the voice that takes forty minutes to fully discover is a very important part of the personality.

Observe changes in energy patterns: Each subpersonality is a different energy pattern: each one has a different facial expression, posture, and tone of voice.

The dialogue of voices as an altered state of consciousness: The conscious ego and protector/controller, which normally dominate consciousness, are temporarily set aside while other energy patterns are given the opportunity to speak. With this in mind, the facilitator will automatically be careful when dealing with a voice. Therefore, the way the session ends is critical. It is important to return the subject to an ordinary state of consciousness.

Voice dialogue is not a substitute for personal reactions: DV should only be carried out in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect.