Witnessing and Support

Many people do best in working on psychological material like this if they have someone supporting them that they trust. Other people like to work alone.

How to Work with a Witness

There are two ways to work with a witness:

1. Your witness could be with you as you work on Self-Therapy Journey, either in person or on the phone. They can follow what is happening on your computer by using a program that shows it on their computer. This can be done through Skype screen sharing, or you can use a program like mikogo to share screens. This way they can provide emotional support and be a sounding board as you are using the application.

2. You could talk with your witness after each session (and possibly show them your reports) to share with them what you did and how it affected you.

It can be easier to be thoughtful and introspective when you are talking with another person. And perhaps the biggest advantage of a witness is that they can help you stay with STJ. You tell them that you are planning to work with Self-Therapy Journey on, say, Tuesday and you make plans to talk with them that night or the next day. This will help you follow through and do it. This accountability will especially be helpful when you are doing the homework practice that you set up in Stage 5.

It is especially important to have a supportive witness when you are working on psychological issues that stir up painful emotions or strong defenses. If you find yourself avoiding Self-Therapy Journey or getting too upset emotionally, finding a supportive witness might help you stay with the process.



Who Could be Your Witness?

1. Your Therapist. If you are in therapy, your therapist can be your witness, though there are advantages to having another witness as well.

2. A Friend. You can ask a friend of yours to be your witness. Choose a friend who is a good listener and who won't try to tell you what they think is going on with you and what you should do about it, unless you ask. It will also be helpful if your friend is interested in psychology and personal growth.

Professional Support

There are a number of ways to get professional support with STJ.

Working with a Therapist Guide. Work with a therapist or counselor who knows STJ well enough to guide you through it. Click Finding a Therapist Guide to see a list of therapists who know STJ and are willing to guide you in using it without requiring you to become a full client of theirs. (If you want to consider becoming a Therapist Guide, click here.)

Working with an IFS Therapist. Some STJ users have found it most helpful to work with an IFS therapist along with their STJ work. You can check out the list of Therapist Guides.