Really interesting. This is clearly an effective cognitive method which analyses internal conflicts. What it leaves out entirely is the relational nature of experience. The therapist sounds facilitative but not especially empathetic. "What's going on there..." etc. The questions feel slightly cold and interrogative. And their quality is clearly keeping the flow of the conversation at a cognitive rather than deeper intimate level. Perhaps the 'disruptions' the therapist keeps noticing are in fact relational transactions... in which case the MOL therapist is misinterpreting them. For example, when the client says "I was knocking the ball back over the net" the therapist doesn't recognise the ball or the net.
Hi Chris, this might depend on how you look at therapy and the therapist's goals. The aim of MOL therapist is not to be warm or to build a relationship, but to help the client explore conflict (which we described in more detail in the intro). The therapist is not trying to analyse what the client is doing, direct them in any specific direction, or make interpretations about what they are saying - but instead directs their attention at various levels of conflict, by asking about disruptions and being open to what comes next. Interestingly, there might be a difference between how MOL is experienced by the client as compared to a person just watching. Although we are not directly working on being empathic, many clients' experience it as highly empathic and describe feeling understood. We think this is because the therapist is curious and tries to track the client’s perception without interfering with their own interpretations or suggestions.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #30 ДВА В ОДНОМ [Один человек]• Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nrXy15orKhY/mqdefault.jpg)
Really interesting. This is clearly an effective cognitive method which analyses internal conflicts. What it leaves out entirely is the relational nature of experience. The therapist sounds facilitative but not especially empathetic. "What's going on there..." etc. The questions feel slightly cold and interrogative. And their quality is clearly keeping the flow of the conversation at a cognitive rather than deeper intimate level. Perhaps the 'disruptions' the therapist keeps noticing are in fact relational transactions... in which case the MOL therapist is misinterpreting them. For example, when the client says "I was knocking the ball back over the net" the therapist doesn't recognise the ball or the net.
Hi Chris, this might depend on how you look at therapy and the therapist's goals. The aim of MOL therapist is not to be warm or to build a relationship, but to help the client explore conflict (which we described in more detail in the intro). The therapist is not trying to analyse what the client is doing, direct them in any specific direction, or make interpretations about what they are saying - but instead directs their attention at various levels of conflict, by asking about disruptions and being open to what comes next.
Interestingly, there might be a difference between how MOL is experienced by the client as compared to a person just watching. Although we are not directly working on being empathic, many clients' experience it as highly empathic and describe feeling understood. We think this is because the therapist is curious and tries to track the client’s perception without interfering with their own interpretations or suggestions.